Released 27.07.09, Albino Records



Epic’ is a word so over-used in music journalism, you’d probably get as much of an idea about this song if I revealed it ‘contains notes’. But what to do if the song itself is striving so brazenly for epic status that it almost single-handedly creates its own genre, one aptly named Epic.

‘As the Radars Sleep’ starts with big, this-is-important, echoing drums and pretentious organ before frontman Stephen Ellis comes in warbling lyrics which might concern doomed love or corrupt politics. It’s hard to tell, but he’s definitely singing about Bad Things. “Search and rescue teams/ haunted by their childhood dreams”. See? Then, for some reason, trumpets and strings crash in for a bloody huge, kind of uplifting chorus.

What one is supposed to feel when listening to this? Like so much post-rock, it’s expansive and indulgent but never hits any clear emotions – where is love, anger, disavowal, hope? But never mind the emotions, ok. Just appreciate the massiveness. Because this song is epic. It’s important. And you, by extension, are important for listening to it. See those people over there, listening to songs on the radio which make them want to dance and love and go for picnics on sunny days? Songs with clearly discernable lyrics which directly reflect extraordinary moments in their otherwise unremarkable lives? Which they can sing along to, together? Plebs. Ignore them. Stay here which Revere in this murky wilderness of indulgent lyricism and hollow grandiosity. Yes, if you stop and think it is rather empty. But it’s epic.

Posted In Album Reviews, Jul 23 2009. Words - Richard