Explosions In The Sky
Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever
Temporary Residence

Story is: Year 2000. The American Analog Set sent Temporary Residence Ltd. a live cassette with a note attached: "This totally fucking destroys!". The band was Explosions In The Sky (EITS). Late 2001: Temporary Residence Ltd. released Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever (from now: Die/Live Forever...).

EITS is a Texan quartet (Christopher Hrasky, Michael James, Mark T. Smith, Munaf Rayani) drawing soundscapes wide as Texas. Bagged as post-rock, often mentioned with Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Empereor (GYBE). Yes. But I find EITS better. With a less apocalyptic sound and a more concise organic sound than GYPBE, and better melodies and more delicate dynamics than Mogwai. Because Die/Live Forever is pure magic. One side called 'Die', the other 'Live Forever', 3 songs each. Stunning, breathtaking, mindblowing, bodymoving. Everything. Waves of sentimentality and melancholy. But positively vibed. Low-voiced atmospheres followed by noisy cascades of aggro guitars and punchy drum rolls. Mutilated beauty. Debasement tapes?

Side 'Die' kicks off with "Greet Death". Hmmm. Sounds scary. But fear not, we're not into black-metal's territories of doom. Then! Comes: "Yasmin The Light". And what sound extravaganza. Totally out of this world (even though the liner notes claims: 'there ain't no world but this one'...). Outstanding. It starts real quiet - then: blast. A song that comes in waves, brushing all over you. Dragging you off. Out. Down. Sssh. Quiet. And, maybe as an ode to our beloved Kafé they end side one with "The Moon Is Down". Or is it inspired by John Steinbeck. Well, right now the moon is on her/his way up and out there.

Side 'Live forever' presents the brilliant "Have You Passed Through This Night?", opening with some whispering spoken word passages. Film quotes? From "The Thin Red Line"? A marvellous piece of music. And when the drums punch in it's goose bumps-time. "A Poor Man's Memory" follows, with rolling, marching band war drums. I get this strong feeling of a band promoting an anti-war message. Fighting for peace. Seems perfect these times. With most of the world acting aggressively and moronic. "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" (what a great title!) close the album perfectly, rising, racing towards the sky. Like something tumbling faster and faster - downhill. Upwards...

Copyright © 2002 Håvard Oppøyen