Do! Make! Say! Think! Yes Brain, but don't you think we should check the gas tank first? + List #2

After a "Fuck Postrock I'm listening to Torche" phase, it seems to be that I cannot get away from long instrumental tracks by bands with overthought names. Some of them are just so good...

 why do I like record sleeves so much??? I'd put it even bigger if I could

 Do Make Say Think 

"Other Truths"

CST062 - Constellation Records, 2009

On their 2009 (and I guess latest) installment for Montreal's Constellation Records, Do Make Say Think have assembled four tracks, intelligently titled, let me surprise you... : 

1. Do
2. Make
3. Say
4. Think

Were they lacking inspiration? Or is this a statement that after more than a decade after 1998's self titled LP, DMST has redefined itself, reaffirming their position as one of Canada's prime export (after Salmon, wonderful accents, really really good smoked meat, and Broken Social Scene).

Do opens the album with soft, fast paced arpeggios and a mood that's not quite belligerent, but definitely victorious. Comforting you in this feeling after a few seconds of intro are the second guitar, bass and drums. These two are then given a break of restrained epicness, kicking in the stomach any of those Muse fuzz bass+drums breaks I used to drool over in high school and sending them in the stratosphere, ass first. Dynamics is the main focus in this song (or just of "postrock" in general), in a progression that's ultimately resolved by silence. Start smooth, add layers (is that a choir I hear on the way?) give it it's distinctive Canadian touch by adding strings and brass instruments, then return to silence like you're going down the other side of the musical mountain you've just conquered. 

That should give you and idea of what Make, Say & Think are: 10 minutes and longer tracks, conveying emotions through sound (psychoacoustics is a mess of a field), going from warm to epic in more than 5 minutes (and not 0 to 60 lightyears/millisecond in less than 6 mississippis like most things today). Compared to the majority of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Grails, Explosions In The Sky and their own other albums, DMST's Other Truths incorporates people singing. That doesn't seem like such novelty, but let me tell you, in this context, it is. Albeit scarce & ambient, vocal contributions from other Canadian artists are notable and surprising, giving additional depth to this "pastoral" record (dixit Pitchfork).

In conclusion, why should you listen to this record? Two possibilities: 

a) you like a similar band. In that case, you don't really need a reason. DMST are at least as good as EitS, GY!BE, SMZ and a bunch of other bands with long or short names.

b) you've never heard anything quite like it before. In that case, I suggest you take a seat, maybe lie down, maybe get a book, and let yourself listen to it. If you like it, there's a lot more where it came from, if not, you'll have a fancy band to mention to a hipster next time you want a pbr. It's a win/win situation.

...

Back to Macro. Instrumental rock music seems to have taken a number of different paths, one of which is epitomized (what a word) by this record. Rather than writing long pompous explanations as to what I mean, here are a few top 5 for these different interpretations of making rock music without vocals.

Will you be able to figure out what logic there was in the order of said records?

Instrumental Rock, Version 1 - Top 5

Explosions In The Sky "How Strange Innocence"
Tortoise "Millions Now Living Will Never Die"
Pelican "What We All Come To Need"
Do Make Say Think "Other Truths" 
Mogwai "Mr Beast"

Instrumental Rock, Version 2 - Top 5

Agitation Free "Live At The Cliffs Of The River Rhine"
Earthless "Live At The Roadburn Festival"
Yawning Man "Rock Formations"
Colour Haze "All"
Neu! S/T

Ok, "All" isn't completely instrumental, but like DMST's record, vocals are more ambient than anything else

Instrumental Rock, Version 3 - Top 5 

Popol Vuh "In Den Garten Pharaos"
Tangerine Dream "Ricochet"
Klaus Schulze "Moondawn"
Ash Ra Tempel S/T
Cosmic Jokers S/T 

Instrumental... well it's not really rock anymore but that doesn't matter, Version 4 - Top 5

Boards Of Canada "The Campfire Headphase"

Manuel Gottsching "E2-E4"
Fuck Buttons "Tarot Sport"
Subway "Subway II"
Beak> S/T

wasn't getting rid of vocals a good idea?

JNCT

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