Selenography

Amazon.com
Flowing in an ether not unlike the one surrounding Tortoise, the Rachel's count 10 members in their band, none of whom plays a plainly rocklike instrument--but all of whom know the force of well-executed musical drama. Their songs are built on Rachel Grimes's piano and Jason Noble's guitars (and both of their miscellaneous instruments) and expand with the addition of trumpet, cello, viola, and percussion. Noble hails from Rodan (and another Kentucky-bred band, Slint, even shows an impress on these complex musical proceedings) and brings some indie-rock cred to this bunch, but aside from that, the Rachel's are a rather plainly drawn group of musicians going for a postrock and post-chamber-music vibe. They do a fine job, making music that sounds anxious in its small-nugget mullings. Edward Grimes's drums make a nice spinal column for the band, which at times seems washed out in minor keys and a calculated approach to not varying the group's formula or its hybrid after-classical mix too much. Like Pullman's Turnstyles and Junkpiles--which brought together reps from Tortoise, Rex, and Come--this recording both stays its unflappably midtempo, richly drawn course and sounds like an homage to a particularly somber musical mood, one the Rachel's portray very well. --Andrew Bartlett

Selenography,Rachel's,Quarter Stick,Experimental Rock,Indie Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Post-Rock/Experimental,Rock,Rock/Pop

Selenography

Average customer rating:

Somewhere in the middle of Mannheim Steamroller, Cirque Du Soleil and Tortoise, making great music
Innovative, Soothing, Relaxing.
Why Don't You Already Own This!
Yer actual "New wave" in action
Worth your time

Selenography
Rachel's
Manufacturer: Quarter Stick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000IR6T
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

A French Galleasse
On Demeter
The Last Light
Kentucky Nocturne
Honeysuckle Suite (Sugar Maple - Elm - Sweetgum)
Artemisia
Old Road
An Evening Of Long Goodbyes
Cuts The Metal Cold
The Mysterious Disapperance Of Louis LePrince
Forgiveness
Hearts And Drums

Amazon.com

Flowing in an ether not unlike the one surrounding Tortoise, the Rachel's count 10 members in their band, none of whom plays a plainly rocklike instrument--but all of whom know the force of well-executed musical drama. Their songs are built on Rachel Grimes's piano and Jason Noble's guitars (and both of their miscellaneous instruments) and expand with the addition of trumpet, cello, viola, and percussion. Noble hails from Rodan (and another Kentucky-bred band, Slint, even shows an impress on these complex musical proceedings) and brings some indie-rock cred to this bunch, but aside from that, the Rachel's are a rather plainly drawn group of musicians going for a postrock and post-chamber-music vibe. They do a fine job, making music that sounds anxious in its small-nugget mullings. Edward Grimes's drums make a nice spinal column for the band, which at times seems washed out in minor keys and a calculated approach to not varying the group's formula or its hybrid after-classical mix too much. Like Pullman's Turnstyles and Junkpiles--which brought together reps from Tortoise, Rex, and Come--this recording both stays its unflappably midtempo, richly drawn course and sounds like an homage to a particularly somber musical mood, one the Rachel's portray very well. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Somewhere in the middle of Mannheim Steamroller, Cirque Du Soleil and Tortoise, making great music.......2006-06-05

Think of Mannheim Steamroller's "Fresh Aire" series, but less commercial. Imagine Cirque Du Soleil, but without the ethnic touch. Envision Tortoise, Broken Social Scene or Do Make Say Think, but without the experimental layers. At the end of the day, in a sweet spot somewhere among those musical "neighbors" lies the music captured in "Selenography".

Typically labeled a post-rock group, the American trio resembles more a classical ensemble, yet their music evades tags as easily as they are able to capture your imagination with it. Rachel's turns out to be one of those bands you typically haven't heard of. Yet, they seem to like it like that, while they stick to making their great music away from the crowds.

Innovative, Soothing, Relaxing........2002-11-06

Would you like instrumental music with violins, pianos, harpsichords? This would be perfect. It will want to make you drift away into the wind. Most of the songs have the same formula -- soothing pianos and violins, especially "A French Galleasse" but that's a good thing. A few unique tracks are "Kentucky Noctourne," a warm, comforting western violin tune, "An Evening of Long Goodbyes," some interesting percussion and feeling, "The Mysterious Dissapearance of Louis LePrince," an eerie, electronic tune, and finally my favorite: "Honeysuckle Suite," a serenade of three different parts, played by a lovely harpsichord. The 10 bandmembers love what they do, and this is a must-have for lovers of neoclassical or post-rock music. Don't miss out!

Why Don't You Already Own This!.......2001-01-16

Stark like an artic winter's night, warm like green grass on a clear summer's day. Beautiful like fire dancing, ugly like life. A post-rock orchastral album for everyone (even your mom!) that takes what is best about Dirty Three, Godspeed you black emperor, and everyone else mining this territory and surpasses them all.

Yer actual "New wave" in action.......1999-09-21

I love the way it starts, with an almost traditional alternative rock rhythm, on all the wrong instruments, before it gives way to familiar sounding piano, harpsichord and gorgeous neo-classical songs. It would be entirely wrong to suggrest that this is inaccessible music - it's delicate, hard, soft and fascinating. Their own voices grow too. wheras several times in the past, the shadow of Michael Nyman has drifted over their albums, more and more, they sound like nothing else. Buy this album - give them your money, they probably need it with there being ten of 'em.

Worth your time.......1999-06-18

This is probably their best recording yet. They sound more confident than on earlier releases. For the uninitiated, start here.

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