Screaming Bloody Mess
written by: Tim Scott (September 2004)
Not sure that the trend forecasters had Missoula, Montana in mind when they called in moody instrumental rock a couple of years back but such has been the spread of atmospheric rock that yes, even towns in Montana can lay claim to their own ambient and textural band who create brooding ‘soundscapes’. Not to trivialize the music of This is a Process of a Still Life, for they are capable of and do write some mesmerizing music but it’s hard not to remain a tad cynical when so many like minded bands dot the indie rock landscape. Instrumental indie music, just like any other genre of music has formulas, formulas that bands often get a little too bogged down in. Thankfully these guys approach to songwriting stretches beyond merely imitating the Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You Black Emperor back catalogue. 'No Memory of the Airshow' is a beautiful song, 8 minutes of rising guitar, bass, and percussions. From here the songs become a little more subdued but affecting just the same.
