Grails - Deep Politics

Portland, Oregon's Grails are not your ordinary American instrumental band. While most instrumental acts develop a single idea and build on it until climax, Grails create a tapestry of ideas and themes that vary from track to track. On their newest offering Deep Politics, Grails grace us with some of the most intricate ideas and melodies out of their entire catalog. Deep Politics is the band's seventh studio album and contains eight tracks of layering and complexity. As a whole, it sounds more like a cinematic film score than a standard post-rock album.

Deep Politics begins with the track 'Future Primitive', which is a dark opener that contains low-tuned guitars and layers of composed strings (arranged by composer Tim Harris). This track also contains very droned out backing vocals that help to set the dark mood. 'All The Colors Of The Dark' is a piano-laden track, filled with echoing guitar and a choir section that adds to the overall cinematic feel. Sitar and reverb end the track, giving it an almost middle-Eastern type vibe. 'Corridors Of Power' is a beat-laden track that is easily the standout. While the majority of Deep Politics is a completely new sound for Grails, the track 'I Led Three Lives' is the closest thing to the Black Tar Prophecies EPs. This track relies heavily on psychedelic guitars and mellotrons. 'Deep Snow' closes the album with a bang. Acoustic and electric slide guitars help to build up the track before the full band comes in to create a dense wall of sound composed of strings, rich bass lines, and enormous feedback.

Deep Politics is Grails at their finest. The Portland four-piece has taken their music to an entirely different level and has succeeded in doing so. Grails has continued to evolve their sound and this is most recognized on Deep Politics. If you want to hear something different than your ordinary post-rock, I highly recommend Deep Politics by Grails.

Check out the track 'Corridors Of Power' off of Grails - Deep Politics: