I Sink Myself Beneath The Water For Her: Place Of Indigo's "Place Of Indigo EP" Review

Rarely do I come across a band that captivates my imagination to a point where their uniqueness grabs a hold on to me and doesn’t let go. But when I manage to find a band that does that such thing, it adds a much richer experience to the music itself. The latest proof I have that this kind of music still exists can be summed up in three words, Place Of Indigo. Place Of Indigo’s self titled debut EP is an infectious blend of dreamy sonic landscapes, crisp vocals and melodic guitar. For those of you who haven’t heard of Place Of Indigo, they can be compared to late 80’s band The Cure, with a darker modern age undertone. Certain points on the release are also reminiscent to American band Dredg, from an artistic standpoint. Despite these comparisons, Place Of Indigo are entirely a breed of their own. 

The EP kicks off with a slow dream inducing epic entitled ’12:15’, which will remain in your head for days. Well structured lyrics and the use of synths help push this song beyond the boundaries. The bridge of ’12:15’ builds up a sense of urgency which packs a punch but also offers a lush ending. The next song ‘Mary-Go-Round’ allows no time for building and begins the track straight away with a pounding bass line. The track shows Place Of Indigo continuing their art laden dream rock with yet another catchy chorus. The repetition of ‘Mary we go round and round and round’ works wonders as a hook. ‘The Drowning Dream’ follows next and is the best track on the EP. The musicianship on this track is superb, whilst they capture the essence of sorrow and yet somehow make it beautiful. The other thing that sets this song a tier above the rest is the echoing guitar solo in the bridge. The next few tracks ‘Secrets’ and ‘Another Lonely Face’ run together to an extent but are still adequate additions to the EP. It’s where Place Of Indigo go after these two tracks is what is truly impressive.  The closer ‘Purple Ceilings’ is epic concoction of sounds that sparks the imagination. After building up from a slow start it becomes the most musically depth track on the release and begs the listener for more.

Place Of Indigo have built some solid ground work with this self titled release, but they are not done yet. Once this band has time to grow and further refine their own style, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Keep Place Of Indigo on your must watch list in the upcoming year, because they are going places.    

Rating: 8/10

Stand Out Tracks: 12:15, The Drowning Dream, Purple Ceilings

Check Out Place Of Indigo At:

www.myspace.com/placeofindigo

www.last.fm/music/Place+of+Indigo

www.facebook.com/pages/Place-of-Indigo/32479131563

This Moment Is What You Die For: Trust Company's "Dreaming In Black And White" Review

Trust Company has just unleashed their first album for six years and “Dreaming In Black And White” is not a release to be taken lightly.

Trust Company has produced an album, that is not only the best of their career, but is also a contender for rock album of the year. Their sound has matured dramatically since the 2005 release “True Parallels” which was marked with nothing but average reviews. “Dreaming In Black And White” hits harder than ever before, whilst still incorporating melodic guitar riffs and Kevin Palmer’s unique ghostly voice into the mix. The first single to come off the album was released late last year and is titled “Heart In My Hands.” It features a thunderous bass line and infectious chorus, perfect for a lead single. Some of the other highlights off the album are slower, more emotionally charged songs where Kevin Palmer’s sincerity shines through.

 Songs such as “Stumbling”, “Alone Again” and “Letting Go” are perfect examples of such tracks and the acoustic version of “Stumbling” feels even more natural than the original. Unlike some modern rock albums over the last few years, this is one album that does not feel over produced. Trust Company have always managed to sound raw in their recordings then other bands, even in 2011 that shines through. In short Trust Company has stamped their foot down yet again on the hard rock landscape and have nothing but positives to look forward to.

“Dreaming In Black And White” has already been met with high levels of praise from critics and will hopefully be the album to put these guys back on the map, after they have been missing from it for far too long. 12% of people dream in black and white, so if Kevin Palmer falls into that percentage, it sure has helped him and the boys from Trust Company create a terrific album.

Rating: 10/10

Stand Out Tracks: Heart In My Hands, Reverse & Remember, Alone Again, Letting Go, Don't Say Goodbye

Check Out Trust Company At:

 www.myspace.com/trustcompany

www.last.fm/music/TRUSTcompany

http://trustcompanyband.net/