The second helping from Montreal's
Bell Orchestre
holds true to the Canadian instrumentalists' penchant for melodic/atonal slabs of cinematic chamber rock, but this time around they've reigned in the jerky, less-developed aspects of their work, allowing for a smooth, though still volatile blend of
post-punk
,
classical crossover
, and straight-up
experimental rock
.
As Seen Through Windows
employs much of the same instrumentation as 2005's
Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light
(strings, brass, drums, guitar, keyboards, bass), but where their debut relied on visceral live performance to paint its audio images,
Windows
bends each instrument to its will, distressing, texturizing, and squeezing out every sonic option using both organic and electronic means. From the muted, warmly distorted horns that serve as opener
"Stripes,"
the spine to the manic
"Gaze,"
which explodes out like an amplifier crash into a late-'70s cop drama theme, to the
My Morning Jacket
-inspired closer
"Air Lines/Land Lines,"
the
imbue each track with both dexterity and playfulness, rarely stopping long enough to commit wholeheartedly to one or the other --
"Bucephalus Bouncing Ball"
may lean a little too hard on distorted drums, but it goes from
Battles
-esque math-jam to triumphant and majestic in just under three minutes. While this may frustrate some listeners looking for a tow rope, it makes for a far more rewarding run for those willing to endure every bump and glide. ~ James Christopher Monger