Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent: Bloom EP
Die Stadt, 2005
rating: 2.5/5
reviewer: grantpurdumthegumshoe


Surprise-surprise ... As Fovea Hex slowly melt into my ears I discover that Bloom contains guest spots from Brian and Roger Eno AND is the product of musicians from Iceland. So THAT explains the subtle drones seeping down the walls behind Clodagh Simonds' tender vocals and the artmospheric lilt of this touch-and-go tease of an EP.

Not to whip a dead horse's eyes (okay, one or two extra slaps and I'm out), but fellow Icelandian Björk once said her Vespertine project was her attempt at a record to make pasta to, whatever the felch that means. Taking that statement into account, Bloom also presents itself as a record to make pasta to... while floating through space... in a giant coffin (one with full cookware installed, of course)... while a parade of solemn ghost voices surge in the background....... did I mention the coffin would be floating through space?

How else can one analyze/describe/evaluate such a brief, shapeless triad of tracks? There's the lingering feeling that something magnificent could be in the works – after all, this is only part One – but potential for future success, in itself, is no reason to purchase an agonizingly spare record that lasts 18-or-so minutes, EP designation/Eno props/Icelandic roots/dead foetus or no. As an introduction to an ongoing series titled Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent, Bloom works reasonably well with its soothing environs and delicate, purr-soft singing, but listening to its contents leaves one unfulfilled, as if a moving masterpiece were shut down after the opening credits rolled.

Ambient/minimalist music is the calling card of many an indie-rock fuckwit these days, and those spellbound by minor-league labels like Kranky! will find this EP bookends their Dead Texan full lengths nicely. After all, few in the drone community are waiting for the classic Spielberg ending, and on its own, Bloom holds up against other albums scaling similar climes. But the question remains: Even if you don't want an overdone, sell-out, pop-shot payoff in the end, how many of you rented Schindler's List for the opening credits alone?

1. Don't These Windows open
2. We Sleep You Bloom
3. That River