You’ve got to wonder what sort of turn the band meeting took when
someone in British Sea Power proposed crafting a score to the 1934
documentary Man of Aran. Granted, these dudes drress up in World
War I garb and perform with giant fake birds on stage, but still. The
group’s last three albums invited references to Joy Division and the
Pixies. Here British Sea Power turn in a brilliant soundtrack that
marks their first go at post-rock and manages to overshadow most other
groups with its deft craftsmanship. They easily master the
tension-and-release dynamic that marks that genre, while packing an
overwhelming amount of emotional resonance. Whether it’s the epic yet
sparse lost-at-sea-lament “The South Sound” or the slow-building,
Irish-folk-flavored indie of “No Man Is an Archipelago,” this is a
gorgeous addition to the world of instrumental rock. — Matt
Whelihan
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2009.
