Lost at Sea
written by: Kevin Affoldy (10.28.2005)
Never having been there, I can only imagine a trip through Montana to be awe-inspiring. Nature so pristine makes returning to the city seem unimaginable - I long for a place still untouched by the corrosive affects of the rise of mankind, with great open spaces and a deep blue sky that stretches forever. This Is A Process Of A Still Life - a band that hails from Missoula, Montana - have taken these breathtaking surroundings and re-created them as music.
Light is full of instrumental splendor and ambient texture. Not as heavy on the jaw-dropping crescendos as some of their contemporaries, This Is A Process Of A Still Life instead focus on sustaining an airy mood and intricate sound throughout the album’s nine songs. Like all good instrumental music, these songs work at drawing out emotion - swelling the heart at one moment, only to provide the soundtrack for deep introspection the next. The majority of the album finds the band contemplating a somber mood, owing perhaps to the feeling of isolation that living in such an untouched area can cause.
In a genre that has seen increased popularity lately, This Is A Process Of A Still Life have made an album that wears its influences on its sleeve yet still manages to craft its own style. For a category of music that increasingly finds bands sacrificing originality by competing to be the most grandiose and bombastic, This Is A Process Of A Still Life have created their own formula that is as expansive and beautiful as their home state.
