The Clear Spots

From the great French label:

First ever recording by the Pennsylvanian quartet outside the Deep Water Acres camp. A live session of rural noise that builds a massive freestyle edifice. An intense & experimental work made of guitarz and heavy drums.

The Clear Spots are so amazing that they were on the top of my favorite releases of 2006 ; sorry but I love ‘em ! ltd72

To order, email ruralfaune [at] neuf [dot] fr

Bones of the Great Divide

. . . Whilst previous albums have been created by tapes moving between the duo, this latest double CD release ‘Bones Of the Great Divide’ was played live, giving the pieces a looser and very vibrant feel which the players maintain over eleven sparkling pieces. One of those albums that reveals its true nature with repeated listening, meaning you will be enjoying even more every time you play it. . . .

This is the Voice of Doom Calling

. . . Over ten tracks, the band paints pictures with sounds, visions of running water, snowy mountaintops, deserted buildings and abandoned cars all coming into my head. . . .

Evening Fires

. . . From magical to mystical, the music of Evening Fires is as beautiful as the starry sky on their self-titled debut. Featuring bells, drums, guitar, organ, flute, synth and voice, this is music for contemplation, delicate and soothing but never twee and boring, the sounds alive with possibility. . . .

Levitate and Dissolve

. . . a roller coaster ride of epic proportions, Robert Cozzolino (Percussion) and George Draguns (Guitars), keeping control of the dynamic tension with great precision. Whilst undoubtedly noisy, the musicians retain control, knowing exactly when to press down on the throttle, something they certainly do on the excellently named ‘Pat Metheney’s Kidney Stone’. . . .

Plays Spiral Isles / Smokehouse Debris

. . . Named ‘Plays Spiral Isles’ the Niagara Falls offer three tracks of wonderful smoke filled music, the second of which ‘Acid Of Ants’ is a tense scuttle of noise that creeps under the skin like that itch you just cannot reach. . . .

. . . Opening with a heavy space rock riff, highly distorted and thunderous in its intent, the band slow it down to enter a far more experimental passage, building into a frenetic crescendo of chaos, the band launching into another killer riff that mixes the Stooges and Hawkwind, finally disintegrating under the weight of their sonic fury. . . .

Sunblinded Visions by a Silver Sea / say goodnight to the evangelist

. . . You can almost hear the waves lapping at the shore and feel the sun on your face, so strong is the mood of the piece an enticing and gentle guitar mixed with electronics, the music evolving into a heart-warming drone filled with bliss. . . .

. . . Following a similar path, The Circle and the Point offer four more pieces of guitar and electronic drone, gently weaving their experimental magic through the brain. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read the full reviews on Terrascope Online

Whose idea was it to take ambient music past ambient and into a less Yanni, more "drone" sound? Where can I sign up to thank them? The Niagara Falls split release with The Clear Spots is reason enough to do so. . . .

. . . The Clear Spots break out of their riff to employ surf sounds, freestyle noise and bring it all back in the four movements of this piece titled, "Roach Beef Sandwich". Extremely tasty, they are. Overall this is one of the best pieces of instrumental work that I've heard in a while . . .

Click here to read the full review on Foxy Digitalis

This split CD-R is one of those releases received toward the tale end of '06 but not fully digested till now. Niagara Falls, huh? Got some nerve naming yourselves after that raging natural wonder, but then maybe these Pennsylvania natives are onto something. There is a gorgeous shimmer in these cascading waterfalls that refracts its tonal light fragments in every direction at once. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read the full review

We’ve showed our love to the Clear Spots before and despite the fact that I initially found myself a bit surprised by the sound of the sprawling Electricity for All (Deep Water) the main content of such love declaration is not likely to change anytime soon. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read full review at Broken Face