Questions in Dialect

Item: As You May Know
Author: Trae Cadenhead

As You May Know

(2003)

Reviewed by Trae Cadenhead

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Label Esperanza PlantationThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

ambient experimental post-rock

Questions in Dialect is not the kind of band that you pop into your CD player to hear a quick favorite song before heading on to the next thing. No, this is music that you have to spend time with and digest slowly. Their new album As You May Know must be taken as a whole.

A long time favorite on the indie scene, Mississippi band Questions in Dialect was originally known by a couple of other names and judging from their musical stylings then and now, it is hard to believe that we have the same band here.

Questions in Dialect is essentially a musical experience that rests somewhere between Unwed Sailor and Ester Drang. Fans of Sigur Ros should be happy here as well. Of the eight songs on the band's album, only one has lyrics. The power of the album comes through in the emotion of the music through songs that build to a breaking point and then swell up with energy. Words such as atmosphere and emotional are highly effective to reflect what Questions in Dialect does with their music.

The lyrics on the song "The Possibilities Right Now" say just enough to give the album the meaning it needs: "Just let it go; that's all I can say. It's not your fault it happened this way. Don't be so rash or it'll never be right. So just let it go; just for tonight. Just for tonight." With these words as the guide it's easy to write in your own story for which As You May Know is the soundtrack.

Questions in Dialect certainly displays an impressive amount of talent and creativity on As You May Know. After a well-hyped show at Cornerstone 2003, the band has a buzz going for them that should help propel their music to a larger audience. A band of their caliber deserves nothing less.

4 tocks