Review Summary: Their sound has developed, and become more refined since; but i find this EP really captures what the band is all on about. Making beautiful, delicate music from the heart, in a new and unique way.
'Make Amends With Your Adversary Before Dawn' is one of many EP's Because of Ghosts recorded between the coming together of the group in 2002 to their latest record and first full length 'The Tomorrow We Were Promised Yesterday'. It, in my opinion, shows the bands full array of sounds and ideas as the group was finding itself, and finding their own way of going about writing beautiful instrumental post-rock tunes.
Because of Ghosts are :
Jacob Pearce: drums, samples, voice, glockenspiel.
Reuben Stanton: guitar, accordion, piano.
Domenic Stanton: bass, glockenspiel.
The first thing you will notice about 'Make Amends..' is the incredibly interesting, innovative, and unique style of playing guitarist Stanton has. Using live sampling he will open strum just a sequence of dead strings with the occassional note thrown in there, loop that, and continue playing something else over the top, sometimes even looping that, to continue playing. (he does this when playing live also). Though this is not a new or ground breaking technique in any way, shape or form; but it is the way in which he is able to use it to create such a full and interesting sound that amazes me. He will often create these loops, and once they are in full flight play the chords/riff which you will remember as being the actual song. Perhaps the most innovative and breathtaking moments on the album is during 'I Wasn't Dreaming After All' when Stanton shows us his full array of tricks starting with a sensational chord progression, suddenly stopping and moving into a sequence of strummings on dead strings, to an amazing display of control and ability in using harmonics. It gets me every time.
Of course the guitar work is not the only stand out feature of this band, percussionist Jacob Pearce is a very important piece of the song writing process (this becomes more so apparent when seeing them live). Songs like 'Hello Darkness' and 'Prun Sunk' show us his ability and the influence he has in the band. Bassist Domenic Stanton plays a significant role in the band, but it is obvious that brother Rueben and drummer Pearce are the main songwriters in the band.
The sound which these three able musicians then create is uplifting, dark, intricute, melancholy, and beautiful; full of chaotic but coherent guitar riffs, constant but changing percussion, and often scattered noises can be heard in the background of the recording, giving the EP a scattered, low-fi sounding finish. The piano based 'No More Reason' is a good example of this; a two minute long, delicate piano riff, made scattered by the fumbling of a tamborine in the background.
All in all, this is a great starting point for Because of Ghosts; they show us their ability, and their direction. Their sound has developed, and become more refined since; but i find this EP really captures what the band is all on about. Making beautiful, delicate music from the heart, in a new and unique way.
Standouts:
I Wasn't Dreaming after All
Hello Darkness
Prun Sunk
