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The Plateau Phase
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The Plateau Phase
Current price: $19.99
Barnes and Noble
The Plateau Phase
Current price: $19.99
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The one studio album
put out over its career,
boldly aimed to stand out as an
album and achieved its goal with style and power. With tips of the hat to everyone from early-'70s
and aggro
to the later song-smashings of
,
isn't an out-and-out masterpiece, but comes awfully close. If anything, the comparisons at the time of release to
resulted from the label association -- as a singer,
had a lighter tone than
, while
's bass is hardly trying to clone
's inimitable surge.
is certainly a dark, moody experience though, and
turned out to be as crucial for setting a sonic mood for
as
did for
. Given the similar influences, the best contemporary band to draw comparisons to might be early
, but with much less
and more general melancholy. The mix is often thick, echoing, and understated, only coming up for air with some instruments at times, if at all. Consider
where the brisk drum hits lead the way as the guitar, bass, and especially
quietly lurk beneath, forcing attention more closely onto them as a result.
in general has some lyrics perhaps too readily calling to mind "lost in the wilderness"
scenarios already becoming cliched, but his restrained, dreamlike delivery makes them work better than a flat, declamatory style. Even the occasional wails are set back, strange and curious to hear. Song titles --
-- further heighten the dark, almost
mood. Call it
if one wants, but there's more going on here than Batcave-inspired shenanigans. Later CD reissues included the
and
singles as bonus tracks. ~ Ned Raggett