THE FRENCH QUARTER – We’re Not French (CD, self released)
Posted: November 12th, 2008, by JGRAMRecorded at the famous chem19 studio, there is a distinct Mogwai-esqe post-rock feel to this release that would have earnestly felt at home on the roster of Chemikal Underground when the label was at its height.
Perhaps more Explosions In The Sky than Mogwai, with the recent wet panting reception that Sigor Ros have rightly or wrongly received there is still more than enough desire and attention around for an act such as this, especially when those in the know will have written off and dismissed the genre a long time ago.
There is only so much that can be added to the atmospherics and ambience of post-rock but there is something truly Scottish sounding about this release curiously tickling memories of soundtracks from movies set in Scotland such as Restless Natives and Local Hero. Even more confusing when considering such soundtracks came from Big Country and Dire Straits. In other words, at times these guitars sound like pipes of bags.
There is still a real mystery surrounding Scotland to your average, considered Englishman. Against all the temper it is still, resentfully, a place of true beauty where the air, even if chilly, feels fresher and the people tougher. And on a good day, this is its score.
Thesaurus moment: tranquil.
JGRAM
JGram, friend of the stars, chartered accountant and pie enthusiast, likes nothing better than KICKING YOUR SKINNY ASS by way of a carefully-timed half-nelson followed by the CLOTHES LINE! OW! So never, never cross him. His dog Snowy is equally rockhard and will bite your lim bs off in the blink of an eye. And then paw your eyes out for blinking when he's biting you.