Wilderness


I was only given this track last night, but I've listened to it a sufficient number of times to write about it. It's been on all night, actually.

Like the title implies, "Emergency" is urgent: the alarm guitar sounds each note clearly and deliberately - there will be no confusion here. Drums push the song forward with determination and slow power, there may be an emergency but there's no rush. Now the vocals come in, a compelling voice somewhere between Andy Falkous and mid-90's alterna-rock, commanding us to suspend our disbelief. Sure enough, as per his request, the song becomes weightless for the crucial moment between the journey up and the fall down. It's thrilling, we've been pushed to the top and now all is left to momentum. Now we see the emergency, as the speed becomes too much and it's understood that the careening will begin and "there is no more time." And then my favorite part, a testament to Wilderness' mastery: the song leaves sight and ends before we see the crash, the results brilliantly withheld and left to our racing imagination.

I've tried, but I don't think I can tell you how refreshing this song is. It's the most complete, well crafted work I've heard in a long time, truly reaching the state of transcendence it pushes for.


From Wilderness' sophomore album Vessel States, out April 11 (info):

Wilderness - Emergency (highest recommendation) [mp3]

I think it would be a good idea to catch this band at the following shows. ESPECIALLY with Liars:

02/17/06 New York, NY - Cake Shop
02/18/06 New York, NY - Cake Shop
03/08/06 Amsterdam, Netherlands - TBA
03/09/06 Hamburg, Germany - Ubel & Gefahrlich w/ Liars
03/10/06 Berlin, Germany - White Trash w/ Liars
03/11/06 Essen, Germany - Unperfekthaus w/ Liars
03/12/06 Stuttgart, Germany - Schocken w/ Liars
03/14/06 Vienna, Austria - Chelsea
03/15/06 Zagreb, Croatia - Kset
03/16/06 Bologna, Italy - TBA
03/17/06 Rome, Italy - TBA
03/21/06 Paris, France - Point Ephemere
03/22/06 London, United Kingdom - TBA
03/23/06 Glasgow, United Kingdom - Nice 'N' Sleazy
03/24/06 Cardiff, United Kingdom - Clwb Ifor Bach
03/25/06 Nottingham, United Kingdom - Cabaret
03/26/06 Bristol, United Kingdom - Manhattan Bar
03/27/06 London, United Kingdom - Scala w/ Deerhoof

***

I've got nothin' for you this morning, except that Chris Paul should be an All-Star this year.

Enjoy.