“The science of fire.“
‘Post rock’ has been in an odd place and has been for about 15 years. It will obviously never recover from its awkward categorisation – certainly, I’ll never recover from the embarrassment of explaining This Will Destroy You as “rock instrumentation for non rock purposes” to a bloke in the queue for Camden Underworld show in 2010. Despite being streamed and discovered aplenty, those willing to discuss such nerdy music in detail are often quick to call it stagnant. I can’t prove anything quantitively, but I’m inclined to agree, as there have been no genre defining post rock albums this side of 2010 – please prove me wrong. Perhaps it’s a lack of new blood, and a live act certainly has their work cut out for them on local levels for shows, as most punters will roll their eyes when they see microphones being put aside. Some artists have risen above this challenge to the global stage since 2010 and made fantastic music, from classic sounds (We Lost The Sea, Bruit ≤, BIG|BRAVE) and genre fusion (p.rosa, Toundra, Jambinai) to post metal, which has frankly been flourishing (Holy Fawn, Planning for Burial, Sumac). Still, there’s a clear need for new blood, and frankly a need for the community to champion upcoming projects once again.
AV Sunset gladly accept the mantle of ‘post rock’ and formulate their own style within the tradition, coming now with their debut album Disconnections. Physically from Milton Keynes, they’re not a band coming from nothing, though their history is now obscured. Originally they were called “Retreat! Retreat!” and toured the UK supporting a short EP which has now been quietly retired for a rebrand. They’re still very much the same band, with two tracks being carried over from their early days (“Hasselhoff” and “Monomyths”). This new name allows them to step out of the shadows with full intent. Compared to their first EP, Disconnections boasts production that is massively improved, with big dynamic leaps and oozing space impartiny utmost clarity. You’ll hear each musician in detail: two guitars that are never over-layered, grooving bass, detailed drumwork, and extra embellishments from synths and effects.
Warm organs swell on the opener “Empty Vessels”, a track with a mood of determination. Whilst the soundscaping is detailed, they smash out the chords with joy so that you can tell they plan to be instrumental yet fun. “Hasselhoff” is a lengthy track and contains Disconnections’ first moments of calm in its middle stretch, where playful guitar lines tell a turn of the tide. The subsequent ending falls into place very naturally, starting at an already impressive volume at the four-and-a-half minute mark, and continuing to develop its guitar lines all the way out the seventh minute. It would be much easier to let pedal tinkering seal the finale, but AV Sunset don’t focus on this, using it as a cherry on top and hoping to instead convince you through memorable compositions. This was one of the record’s singles and another follows, “The Science of Fire”, which steps into math rock territory with noodly and somewhat angular riffs from dual guitars. “Monomyths” steps back from ‘rock’ for a shimmery reverie, up to and including its heavy and elated conclusion, a masterclass in closing out side one. “Hasselhoff” and “Monomyths” perhaps remain the band’s strongest tracks, which makes complete sense as they were the blueprint demos that launched the project.
Drums are all-important in atmospheric rock music and are a big focus for AV Sunset. They’ve worked hard to keep the rhythms interesting whilst doing the job they’re there to do. These are the sort of beats that hold your attention and make you re-think how the band is counting, without stealing the whole show. On opener “Empty Vessels”, the snare hits are consistent throughout the track, breaking each bar into three; it’s the satisfying sort of type of beat that likely started the song’s own writing process. “Soundtrack” throws in a few extra beats to spice up a mostly sedate track.
The record may be front-loaded with the best content, but the back half is more than worthwhile. “Radar Invisible” is the record’s beatless interlude, and it won’t become a main attraction, but it’s a welcome guitar and synth duet. The last two songs launch the album into darkness. “tl;dl” is extremely gentle at first, understated just like the interlude that came before, but a tempo switch swells into a spirited heavy section defined by its drum grooves. The closer “Ancient Radiations” is a slow moving epic. It introduces its theme at a medium volume before a lengthy guitar-driven build up. It’s the most “crescendo” moment on the record, though the volume ducks before the concluding beatdown, where new guitar themes give the track the complexity it needs to get over the line.
The era of debut instrumental bands becoming instant hits has not carried beyond about 2010, so I don’t expect international traction for AV Sunset for the time being. I’ve plucked this epoch as my reference point for good reason, as the band invokes nostalgia beyond their “AV” connotation. Disconnections brings me back to that time of excitement and discovery, when the floodgates of the internet were opening and the rules were not yet written. A few focused listens will be enough to get to Disconnections under your skin with its familiar approach, consistently charming compositions, and stunning production.
8/10
AV Sunset independently release Disconnections on the 8th December, and you can pre-order it here.