The sequel to 1991’s Gold UK debut “Optimist” comes the sophmore follow- up “Ether Songs.” A twelve track disc by English lads Ollie Knights and Gale Paridjanian on which they perform some emotional cyber-folk rock guitar music ranging in style from Jeff Buckley to Radiohead.
The duo enlisted the help of Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Air, Beck, Tori Amos fame) on the bass guitar, space-age keyboards and samples of Dave Palmer and Brian Reitzell on the drums to fill out the sound of “Ether Songs”
‘Ether Song’ was recorded over three weeks in Los Angeles in early summer 2002 with Beck/Air/Supergrass producer Tony Hoffer
“Ether Songs begins with “Blue Hour,” starting with some brief laughter, light keys, ambient drumming, leading you into strummed guitar and the howls of vocalist Olly Knights the sound reminiscent of Radiohead’s The Bends, with a tinge of “Kid A” Korg’s Kaoss Pad effects.
“Average Man” uses some rolling Gale Paridjanian’s steady strummed guitar, shrilling slide guitars sounds like Radiohead meets U2 with a little Cold Play.
The shimmering ballad “Long Distance” showcases the bands passionate song writing skills solid bass against delicate keys whispering about until the climatic change which vocalist Olly Knights hollars “I let somebody get under my skin, Long distance losing is all that I've seen, Now there's a river, Now there's a river.”
“Stone Throw” takes a spin into the Verve sound and the haunting
“Panic Attack” takes on a Tones on Tail(Bauhaus)-ish vocal style.
The boys have come a long way since their sparse debut, showing they are now officially not capable of being pigeon holed in the New Acoustic Movement. Keep your ears peeled for a rescheduled US tour, rumor has it the FBI postponed their tour for fact that Gale was born in Iran! How Lame!
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