It's tempting to focus on the similarities between FSS and Kranky. Both are Chicago-based independent record labels, both were co-founded by Bruce Adams, and both have released material within the realm of experimental music. But, of course, “experimental music” is a ridiculously broad term, and a general sweep of the labels’ respective catalogs should reveal some fundamental aesthetic differences. For example, in FSS' short history (its first release was in June of 2008), it has unleashed material consisting of dark ambient drones, earsplitting black metal, and uncompromising noise rock. Indeed, FSS comes across as more Sunn O))) than Stars of the Lid.
Keeping this in mind, the release of Interbellum’s debut album, Over All of Spain the Sky is Clear, may come as quite a surprise. I don’t mean to imply that Interbellum is cranking out some catchy summer jams here. Rather, the delicate interplay between Brendon Burke’s piano, noises, and samples and Fred Lonberg-Holm’s mournful cello weave beautifully subdued melodies that are highly expressive and, above all, very, very sad. Whereas other FSS artists may have the tendency to explore the depths and articulate the blackest of black, Interbellum’s music seems to hang perpetually in the magic hour, conjuring up images of desolate landscapes and cool, grey autumn days.
Certainly, there are moments throughout Over All of Spain the Sky is Clear that will appeal to fans of modern composers such as Max Richter and Jóhann Jóhannsson, especially on the album’s 22-minute centerpiece “The Life and Death of Anne Zimmer.” However, while these composers tend to explore expansive sounds and textures through an array of instrumentation, Interbellum are characterized by their more intimate, stripped-down approach. Throughout the album’s seven tracks, the piano and cello remain front and center, with little variation in terms of dynamics and mood. Occasionally, muffled samples can be heard buried deep within the mix, adding subtle, almost incidental-sounding layers, like waking briefly from an afternoon nap to hear snippets of audio resonate from an antique radio, only to hear them fade as you quickly drift back to sleep.
Taken as a whole, the sustained melancholic tones running through Interbellum’s sound may prove challenging and repetitive at times. However, when approached with the right amount of patience, these songs have the ability to captivate and blend with one another, creating an atmosphere that is as beautiful and hypnotic as it is sad. As a result, Over All of Spain the Sky is Clear is a solid album that adds diversity to the catalog of an already exciting young record label.
1. Kivumu
2. The Life and Death of Anne Zimmer
3. Mansfield, Louisiana
4. Gran Canaria
5. 6EQUJ5
6. St. Bernard
7. Moitessier Turns Back
More about: Interbellum
