i have no manners today

Bell Orchestre - Salvatore Amato.

Let's face it: Canadian music education has got to be better than that of the US. I mean, I'm sure there are pockets of good schooling here in the states, but by and large it seems the folks in Canada have us beat in both creativity and technical prowess. No doubt, an American band would have an electric guitar in a band like this, and they would probably bow it -- which is fine. But Bell Orchestre is content with strings, percussion, and horns. And it sounds excellent.

The recording itself is weird -- very hollow and thin sounding, which is odd for a record like this. Normally, an instrumental post-rock band has a large, up-front sound, but this is quiet and reserved. The crescendoes don't blow out your speakers, and the sound is clean throughout. The bells are crisp, the fiddles brilliant.

At first I wasn't feeling this band, but when I started to think of them less like a peer of God Speed you! Black Emperor and more like their own thing, it starts to make more sense. I love that instrumental music has so many forms these days, and that young indie rock kids are still making it.

Something else to consider, is that none of the songs on here outstay their welcome. Well, there's one 13 minute track, but it's not like theyr'e filling up whole sides with one song (I'm looking at you Earth). The run times are tight, which is sometimes a relief, and there is tension created because you inevitably want to hear more.

Oh, and I guess some of these guys are in the Arcade Fire, blah blah blah. But I couldn't care less about that. Recording a Tape the Colour of Light stands on its own as a fine instrumental album. It will be released in stores on November 8th, so mark that in your calendars. It'll be worth the wait. Recommended.