God Is An Astronaut - 'All Is Violent. All Is Bright' - (Revive) Released 02/10/06

To coincide with the worldwide release of the Irish act’s new ‘Moment Of Stillness’ EP, God Is An Astronaut have re-released 2005’s epic masterpiece ‘All Is Violent. All Is Bright’ for those who missed the nearly lost classic the first time around. A hugely underrated band that have gained a solid following since their debut back in 2002, GIAA have crafted a sound that is not unlike their contemporaries such as Mogwai, Sigur Ros and Massive Attack yet have managed to bring a new sound to the table for those of us who need a soundtrack to the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Deep, yes, but warranted.

Their sound is fresh, playful yet sincere with experimental tendencies, disregarding any pretentiousness that comes with being in an instrumental band. Keyboards are flirted with whilst drum loops pick fights with progressive guitar structures all leading up to explosive climaxes that And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead would be glad to claim fame to.

Their influences, as evident as they are, are paid homage to in a way that is never plagiaristic, merely proudly worn on their collective sleeve. For fans of ‘Blue Lines’ or ‘Never Never Land’ this album would be a decent addition to your collection. Early Massive Attack can be heard on the heart-rending ‘Forever Lost’ that utilises a piano sound that reminisces of early nineties dance/DJ era, all the while disregarding the use of vocals as a tool for sculpting lyrics but instead as a sound to accompany the ambience on display. ‘Fragile’ would give Mogwai a run for their money in relation to the emotive value these guys get out of soaring harmonies and painfully haunting score composition, as this previously released single is, for lack of a better word, stunning.