Laymar "In Strange Lines And Distances" (TV Records, 2008)

‘Post’-Rock minus commemorative stamps, and privatisation rows

Laymar are a band that seems to take themselves and their music incredibly seriously. Still, I imagine there is precious little jollity to be had when your band do a good line in sound-tracking a particularly unpleasant day in hell

This Manchester three-piece specialises in dense, brooding instrumental rock atmospherics, and there’s something deftly and naturally cinematic to all that occurs on ‘In Strange Lines & Distances’. Slow and driving, dark ambiences that rumble and drone into life, never permitting even a moment of comfort as they gather momentum, and then in some cases explode.

Throughout these seven pieces the guitars have the delay and reverb set to stun, augmented by occasional subtle voice samples, piano and electronic percussion. So it’s a shame then that the drums very occasionally sound like they have been recorded from an adjoining room, rendering some moments a little flat when elsewhere things are completely soaring.

They hit their stride on showpiece and closer ‘Swords’ as it slowly ratchets up the doom-laden, dramatic tension before imploding under shards of distortion, then resurrecting itself with echoing, calm guitar lines, reminiscent of The Cure at their ‘Disintegration’-era best, shortly before morphing into a fit of noise again. It’s only then you realise that 19 minutes has passed, and by the time it finally concludes you feel as if you have actually travelled somewhere. It probably wouldn’t do the psyche much good to visit there too often mind, but it’s been an engaging experience nonetheless.

You either ‘do’ post-rock or you don’t. This music is at times wilfully difficult and, that’s no doubt the point. Laymar can summon up a pretty impressive racket when they want, so it’ll be interesting to see where else they can go with it from here.

Date review added:  Sunday, May 18, 2008
Reviewer:  Ian Fildes
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Artist MySpace Site