Jakob - Solace (2006) [ 8.5 ]

Style: Post-Rock
Country: New Zealand

Track List:
1. Malachite (6:34)
2. Pneumonic (5:34)
3. Lonesome (8:00)
4. Oran Mor (5:16)
5. Safety In Numbers (7:53)
6. Everything All Of The Time (9:38)
7. Saint (9:01)

Total time: 51:56


Third album from this relatively unknown band from New Zealand, Solace is a dark, melancholic and emotional instrumental experience I came across while looking for alternatives to the likes of Sigur Rós, Explosions in the Sky, Isis and Mogway.

Describing the band is not easy though, since simply calling it a post-rock instrumental trio doesn't seem to do the band's almost hypnotic and mesmerizing, slow-building crescendos much justice. Personally, and after hearing the album quite a few times, it has become a nice breath of (dampen) air in my otherwise lighter and fresher current playlist.

"Sad but powerful" or "crafted music for the most grand of funerals" as I read someone describing it. A mature and powerful album that doesn't always rely upon creating a regular musical curve, but rather prefers to focus on a more polished sound, beautiful sonic environments and great moods, making it the ideal company after a hard day's work.

Album rating: 8.5
Pros: accessible and structured music.
Cons: not as many climaxes as you'd expect to find in this sort of music; it's still an instrumental band?

Malachite by Jakobtheband

Lonesome by Jakobtheband

Saint by Jakobtheband

Buy Solace on Amazon »
Jakob on Wikipedia »