To blacken the pages - A Semblance of Something appertainning to distruct [Colony Records - 2008]To blacken the pages are a Dublin based hypnotic guitar drone/ doom and dramatic instrumental project of one Paul McAree,which managers stand out from the pile of seemingly similar projects with it's ability to paint effective, varied and compeling sonic mood spaces to get lost in. On offer are three tracks that each settle around the 15 minute mark each, with each having its own distinctive vibe and method of working with-in the fairly tight instrumental constraints. Opening up the album we have Trek In which slides in with a chugging yet fairly clear sounding dark rock guitar tones with atmospheric feedback rise and synth drift in the back ground, as the guitar firms up its harmonic and riff structure your well and truly sucked in. As McAree shifts subtle, dramatic, building and often quite spacey tones around- it’s simply in its building blocks yet executed with such grace, flare and sonic understanding. Next up we have the title track which rather brought to mind a slower more doomy rock Godflesh type vibe with it’s bass wonderings, up-front simply drum pattern and traces of sampled /modified vocals, again it sucks you into it’s vibe and keeps you there. Lastly we have Trek out which present such a hypnotic, gloomy and 'cant’ get enough of it' riff that seems to hum, buzz and simmer through you with great emotional depth and bleack-ness. Again it’s using fairly simply instrument building blocks but mangers to keep you completely capture in its blacked wings- as it sails, swoops and ebbs over its unfolding sonic landscape. With such a primal, pained and sombre air you feel like you could just walk and walk for evermore into it’s potent and meandering guitar tones. It really is the blacked cherry on the top of the cake and the highlight of the album. An album of great darkened atmospheric grace and feeling. McAree has the very special ability of been able bleed really emotional intensity, his own sombre personality and depth from a genre that is become mighty crowed and clichéd- something very special so don’t miss out it!. Roger Batty
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