Jacobstone

Item: Regions
Author: Alex Klages

Regions

(2002)

Reviewed by Alex Klages

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Label independentThe Phantom TollboothAugust 2002

ambient experimental indie rock

The title of the newest album from Jacobstone, Regions is an appropriate one in many ways. On one hand, there is the fact that the bulk of the work is the soundtrack for the travelling exhibition "In a Field of Poppies" and how that deals with some of the negative things about warring factions in certain regions. On the other hand, there is essentially two albums on the one cd, a four-song EP of new Jacobstone material and an eleven-song primarily instrumental ambient album, and the title could be referring to these separate regions of the disc.

As tempting as it is to review this album as its components, it is best served by treating it as a whole. The first four songs serve to set up the final eleven. There is a more overtly spiritual element to the lyrics on these four tracks than there was on Chambers And Volumes. Sonically they follow logically from that project, as Jacobstone continues its growth as a band.

"Prince of the City," "Holding," "A Year of Loss," and "Comatose," more traditionally Jacobstone in style, set up a canvas on which is painted the 11 tracks which follow. The last eleven tracks are an interesting pastiche of sampled sounds, spoken voice, guitar, drums, and keyboards, interwoven to create a general effect of loss and alienation, but ultimately hope, in the face of despair.

Of the more instrumental tracks, the ones which were most attention-grabbing to me were "Hallways, Emblems," "Leavening," with its haunting female-spoken lyrics, "Proem Floor," with its almost chanted backing vocals leading into a distorted bass pattern, and "Rest Through," which closes off the package.

Because it does not neatly fit into the usual pattern of an album, it is a hard work to get a grip on, initially. But with repeated listenings, the picture of the last eleven tracks becomes clearer and clearer.

Since this is a more conceptual album, on the whole, many people who liked Jacobstone's first two efforts may find themselves either not quite getting into this album, or sticking to the first four tracks. But for those willing to take the time to be absorbed into the landscape of the final eleven tracks, there is a certain beauty to the mess, which is well worth the listening.

4 tocks