Vibracathedral Orchestra has a long and interesting discography. They've been making music for the past decade, though there's more than a slight possibilty you've never heard of them until this review. It's not that they're purposefully obscure, they've just got more important things to do than being the big indie thing, and that's quite okay. It should tell you something about the band's aesthetic beliefs when you take a gander at their most recent album, The Queen of Guess. It's a simple drawing of a bird on the front, an outline of the bird on the back, and the notes to the record constitute the line. No liner notes, no breakdown of who did what, no political or phiolosphical rants--nothing to be found on the inside except a CD.
I believe the word I'm looking for is "minimal."
Upon listening, you'll soon discover that the music is as minimal as the packaging. It's a heady, mind-expanding drone, and though some might not readily appreciate the beauty and the nuances of such sounds, I personally find their compositions to be quite pleasing. With a groove that fits nicely between Acid Mothers Temple and Charalambides, The Queen Of Guess is an album that is quiet in the loud parts and loud in the quiet parts. Think I'm being silly? Consider this: if you listen to this record with the volume turned really low, it sounds as peaceful and as calming as the seaside, but if you turn up the volume to the 'normal' range, it's like being in the room with a 747, it's abrasive, it's harsh, and it's difficult.
When you hit that perfect balance, though, The Queen of Guess is a really great listen. Drone rock never sounded finer, even if it's faceless and nameless and just drones on and on and on. It might sound like noise--hell, it may BE noise--but it's a beautiful racket.
--Joseph Kyle
Artist Website: http://www.vibracathedral.co.uk
Label Website: http://www.vhfrecords.com
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