The Czars: Before but longer

The simple beauty of "Before... but longer" becomes apparent right from the first track, swelling from a simple atmospheric guitar backing with calming intense and melancholic vocal harmonies. This second album from the Denver 5-piece encompasses many influences, all held together by the pure-sounding voice of singer John William Grant. The band would seem hard to categorise - on "concentrate" they combine the minimal post-rock ethos of bands like Low, with country tinges and chilling piano atmospherics, while later tracks like "zippermouth" and "gangrene" mix jagged rhythmic rock with smoky intense vocals. And this leaves space for some beautiful acoustic songwriting and vocal harmonies on "get used to it" and the catchy alt-country pop of "what I can do for you". Overall it really is hard to dislike the album - there's something on there for everyone, from swelling rhythmic post-rock, classic songwriting skill and lo-fi atmospherics right through to the sparse electronica of "pressure" and the acoustic Patsy Cline cover which ends the record. And while many of the songs could make it purely as instrumentals, they're all accompanied by beautiful vocals which fit in seamlessly and really make this record special. Judging by this, their debut on the Bella union label, the Czars look set for great things.