I'd downloaded this album a couple of months ago, and somehow forgot to listen to it. Getting back to it, though, was fantastic, and quickly made me regret not looking at this earlier. Bangkok-based band Inspirative released this record pretty quietly, but despite that, it's risen up to match up against some hard-hitting names in post-rock. Unfortunately, even after delving, not a lot of information is available about the band, but the sheer influence the record has speaks for itself. Tracks like "Flame Trees" and "He's Gazing At You From The Black Mirror" definitely reflect the Sigur Ros and Mogwai influences, with long, drawn-out yet moving buildups in the songs. Meanwhile, "Military Parachutes" takes on a much softer, more delicate sound, consisting mostly of piano and soft guitar.At first glance, the record didn't seem like anything special - the introduction of "Blue Sky" made me think this was just another generic post-rock record. As the album starts to gear up, however, each song becomes more intoxicating and draws in the listener more and more. I thought one of the coolest parts was the blending of instrumental music and soft Thai lyrics in the fourth track, with an aptly Thai name; and in this song, the way they blended a chaotic guitar, loud drums, vocals, and everything else going on into something uniquely aesthetic.
By the end of the release, it might just be another post-rock record, but one that's exceeded expectations by far. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with what Inspirative was able to create, and despite my initial reaction, the record pulled together and turned out to be an interesting release. This album had fantastic experimentalism, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
You can check out some tracks here.
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