Frequency Drift: ...Laid To Rest

Rating albums isn't an easy job. Take ...Laid To Rest, the third full release from Germany's Frequency Drift as a prime example. Listened to in the correct frame of mind, this languid affair swoops, swoons and oozes with class, providing six lengthy tracks (the shortest clocks in at 7:44, the longest 15:25, beating its nearest rival by a mere second) that seduce and cajole through sparse, eerie instrumentation and the beautiful, super-controlled vocals of Antje Auer. A lady who posses one of those voices that melts hearts and unlocks minds. However approached with a less serene temperament, suddenly Frequency Drift loosen their grasp on your imagination and concentration, coming across as amazingly one paced and samey across the hour and bit presented here. Even after eight or nine listens to this album I am completely torn as to whether it is a masterpiece, or thoroughly flawed and in truth, because of this I've had to plump for somewhere in between.

...Laid To Rest is never bad, never boring, or any less than spell binding, but it does have to be borne in mind that for those who need a tempo change, a lot of light and shade, or grand scene changing focus shifts, you are going to struggle here. While those willing to be eased along on glorious, reserved, plaintive guitar lines, low key, if always sultry and persuasive vocals, or the infusion of flute, clarinet or harp to embellish the more expected instrumentation, will be hailing this album as a classic right from the off. Obviously I'm somewhere in between and can see both sides of the argument, with songs such as "Wish" both managing to whisk me off on a sea of stunning guitar work and harmonious harp, while still on occasion make me wonder how long the song has left before I might hear something a little different - although to be fair the odd guitar burst does shatter the atmosphere. "Cold" with its reliance on repeated vocals to build the tension on a song that intentionally remains at walking pace falls into exactly the same category. These two songs are the lengthiest tracks on the album, but the short-ish "Ice", where at least a cascade of noise does build in places to offset the flute passages and "Parted" suffer from the same fate. Although the problem is possibly more to do with the small amount of variety from song to song, rather than within each individual offering.

Stunning in places, I have no qualms in suggesting that to some Laid To Rest will be a contender for album of the year. However I can't pretend that some prog lovers won't be bored to tears at the similarly styled fare on show. Me? I'm still torn and while I can see myself listening to this on occasion, it will never reach the classic status that others will bestow upon it.

Track Listing
1. Dead
2. Parted
3. Cold
4. Wish
5. Ice
6. Copper

Added: October 15th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Frequency Drift Online
Hits: 3849
Language: english

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