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Jeniferever/The Next Autumn Soundtrack, split ep
So, we’ve been championing TNAS here at Play Dead for a while now, so what happens when they go and release a CD? Well they go and break up. I’m not exactly sure why, but on the music that’s contained on this CD it’s a shame. First up though we have Jeniferever, who it’s fair to say are not a million miles away from what TNAS are going for and that’s melancholy, building, instrumental (with the occasional vocal) experimental rock tuneage, that’s not a million miles away from what the Appleseed Cast seem to have mastered over the last 5 years. The first song Kap Farvel is the perfect example of this. At just under 8 and a half minutes long, epic is a pretty good description as it starts off refined and gentle and continually builds and expands in to a swirly mass of noise. Kind of less the Mogwai approach of creeping up on you and scaring the shit out of you when you weren’t expecting it, and more the Godspeed vibe of increasing volume slowly and gently until your ears can take no more. And while it may lack some of the intensity of its peers, it is however pretty sensational and emotion filled in its own right. Expect great things of these lot in the future. So on to TNAS then. Opening with Nightnightbyebye, there’s definitely more a defined song structure in what they do compared to Jeniferever, making them more comparable to the Deep Elm style bands than any drawn out post rock heroes, maybe it’s the more prominent vocal or the dynamics of the songs, but what is clear is that they’re pretty incredible at what they do. Next song Our Sleep Is Like A Tape, When It Runs Out We just Turn Over lasts 25 seconds, but it’s great and immediately steps them in to the next epic (so many epics so few songs!) if not quite depressingly titled What Is It About The Winter That Makes You Feel Lonely?. I think the doctors have called this seasonal adjustment disorder lads, since you asked, but TNAS’ answer is a whole lot more interesting. The perfect blend of melancholy and upbeat, I guess it’s a fitting end to a great band that were really hitting their stride. In truth I couldn’t recommend this release highly enough, to have two bands of this dynamic, emotional and (yes I’m gonna say it again) epic quality on such small labels is testament to the strength of music.


/Marc Bird
Play Dead