This Will Destroy You / Lymbyc Systym
Field Studies (Split EP)
Rating: 3.5
Label: Magic Bullet Records
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The split EP, once a sensible format utilized in the days of dual-sided media like vinyl and cassette, nose-dived in popularity with the advent of single-sided compact discs. Still used occasionally by independent artists to cut production costs and provide crossover fan exposure, split EPs can be an efficient marketing tool for under-the-radar bands. Texas and Arizona-based bands This Will Destroy You and Lymbyc Systym decided to fuse resources while touring together in late 2007, and rightfully so. Their deviating takes on instrumental rock are naturally quite complementary to each other.
Nearly half of Field Studies resides within This Will Destroy You's 11 minute opener "Brutalism & the Worship of the Machine," an epic post-rocker that builds off their previous material. Like a supernova, the song explodes into a thick and heavenly power chord drone much in the vein of HUM or Caspian, before fading to a sparkling trickle of repetitive ambient melodies. It gets a little redundant by the end, as does the minimalism electronica of follow-up track "Freedom Blade." But if anything, both songs are beautifully redundant. They evoke a serene feeling of hopefulness in the listener; the light at the end of the tunnel isn't upon us yet, but it's near.
That's where Lymbyc Systym comes in; they are the reassurance that everything will be all right. Their half of the EP is an ecstatic burst of Nintendo-era synths and traditional acoustic rock instruments. Brothers Jared and Michael Bell have an immaculate knack for writing succinct major-seventh compositions. There's an endless wrinkle of melodies on the duo's brains, and their contribution to the EP proves this. Simple but meandering arrangements back up the slamming drums of "Processed Spirits" and "Notations." The celestial "Narita" is a low-key closer that ranks among the band's best material.
This Will Destroy You offers a nice set up to Lymbyc Systym's 11 minutes in heaven. By the closing seconds of "Narita," you'll walk away with an extra dose of serotonin. If there's any complaint about Field Studies, it's that it feels cut short on many levels because of its split nature. Its five excellent songs, though they work adequately enough with each other, are better off flourishing in the capacity of full length albums. Field Studies' audition will hopefully grant each one a role in something bigger.
by Jory Spadea