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Caspian

It’s time for me to once again implore you to Listen To These Guys Or Else (LTTGOE).

Let’s be honest: Godspeed You! Black Emperor are on permanent hiatus, and you’re not really a huge fan of any of their myriad side projects (sometimes Fly Pan Am or Set Fire To Flames are OK, and A Silver Mt. Zion WERE good at one point, but none of them really approach GY!BE status).

And while you may love Explosions In The Sky (who, btw, are going to tear it up at Virgin Fest on September 8 & 9, in case you forgot), everybody knows about them by now, and you want to be a discoverer of new stuff, don’t you? Plus, you want songs that are a tad more digestible (under ten minutes).

May I present your new favourite post-rock instrumental band: Caspian. Luscious, layered guitars…ups and downs…total outbursts of guitary goodness that’ll make you want to tear off your own skin. OK, I’m no music theorist so I can’t really describe the glory of what I’m hearing in my headphones right now except to say it gives me goosebumps and I don’t want it to end.

Just when you think “wow, I love this song so much” it takes another turn, sending you deeper and deeper in love with it. Further Up, which is featured on their MySpace page and is taken from their 2005 EP You Are the Conductor is a must-listen. I swear I’ve had it on repeat for a week now. At the 2:35 mark it sets up a build that’s urgent and totally commands your attention, and then again 3:35 mark it outright hits and your brain pretty much ERUPTS. That good.

Really though, my friend Paul (who introduced me to Caspian) said it best: “If you cream your pants at the mere mention of Explosions In The Sky, then Caspian is the band for you.” Their live show last Friday put EITS to shame - it was dangerously good. Even their official bio describes their live sets as “blistering”. Earplugs should be handed out at the door, cause no matter how badass you are, you’ll need them. It was an hour long blast of non-stop, bombastic guitars that would put most live shows to shame.

Go have a listen to their music and tell me you don’t agree!

Posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 3:25 pm by Kat and is filed under MuchRadar.

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