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Album Reviews : Dumbsaint – Panorama, in ten pieces

By on July 21, 2015

a1237739433_16In a time when bands are churning out half-arsed lyric video after half-arsed lyric video purely for the sake of easy social network sharing, Sydney’s Dumbsaint have been heading in the total opposite direction, turning the humble music video (to use the term loosely) into something with actual importance.

As with each release so far, Panorama, in ten pieces has a film component, and this one is a big one; a 55 minute film shot over 6 months with 25 actors, looking into the lives of a series of interesting characters throughout a neighbourhood. Now while the full film is an exclusive with the vinyl release, the album thankfully stands on its own without sounding like half of a package.

Dumbsaint have always sat on the more dynamic end of the whole instrumental post- thing, as you’d expect from considering it carries a story, and that is more apparent here than ever before. It’s immediately made clear with opener “Low Visions” overflowing with aggressive, sharp riffs. They don’t carry you gently into each climax of blissful noise, this keeps on your toes.  “Long Dissolve/Temps Mort” is perhaps the closest to being a traditional, hopeful post-rock epic, but the short “(Partition)” or centre climax of “Of No Return” will have you back on edge.

Without spoiling more track-specific moments, it’s the unpredictable turns that make the first listen so especially thrilling after all, Panorama is Dumbsaint at their most dramatic and it’s the bigger moments (both the riff-driven and the all-consuming climactic ones) that are the most memorable. While 2012’s Something That You Feel Will Find Its Own Form was a heavier release overall, the extra breathing space here just heightens the impact.

There are millions of reviews out there claiming that all sorts of albums are “journeys” and while it may cause some rolled eyes in most cases, it’s true here. Even without the context of the film, Panorama has moods, scene setting and emotional power. This isn’t background music, it’s something that demands attention, and it deserves it.

 

About

Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.