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UpCDownC - Embers

Post rock bands tend to fall into two categories: the incredible, or the interminably dull. Some are complacent and stick to a rigid formula consisting of...

Rating: 8

Post rock bands tend to fall into two categories: the incredible, or the interminably dull. Some are complacent and stick to a rigid formula consisting of build-ups and crescendos; others reject their tag and create something of some merit. British quartet UpCDownC aim for the latter category, thankfully, because no one needs another dull instrumental Mogwai rip-off in their music collection. 'Embers', the follow up to the band's 2005 debut 'And The Battle Is Won' cements their place as one of the leading exponents of underground rock music in the UK, taking in their post rock heritage while drawing from other sources, like bands on the US Hydra Head label. 'McDoomish' is the most blatant, and most brilliant, recognition of these influences, as it rises to its crushingly heavy climax eight minutes in. Sometimes UpCDownC do slip into complacency and things get a little dull, namely on 'Our Flowers' which could be any other song by a post rock band recorded in the last 10 year. For the most part though, 'Embers' subverts the post rock tag attributed to the band in favour of something that can only be described as 'brilliant'. That's all you need to know.

Ben Yates