This Alibi

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What does it take to make an instrumental band interesting? Is it range? Complexity? Unpredictability, competence or drive? This Alibi covers all of the bases on their self-titled debut, and while they remain largely undiscovered outside of the Kansas City area, their attention to detail is almost certain to get the crowds talking. Making their way out of minds and into homes in thanks to Paul Malinowski (Shiner), the band is counting on their initial recording to make an impression rest assured, This Alibi has something intriguing to offer.The opener to this EP ("Introduction") brings a perfectly amorphous feeling of floating, uncertainty and attainable peace, and just visions of Sigur Ros dance in your head when pondering the EPs cover, riled guitars infiltrate the calm and break concentration. There is human drama here intrigue without words. As soon as you believe you have the band pinned down, they change movements to push in infinite new directions.A low patter moves to ominous, slow withdrawal, picking up on a downbeat on "In Vast Direction". The broken spirited retreat becomes familiar with acceptance, but moves stingingly to furious retread. Its unrest is uncontainable. Featuring the first blaze of rock guitars, it proclaims strident freedom and a reality among the ghosts. While the track lapses into illness from time to time, it continues like rolling waves: resolute yet retiring. "In Vast Direction" washes over powerfully, immersing the senses and making it impossible to stray. It is our first true glimpse at the bands magnetic potency.The beautiful, shy plucking and shapeless demureness of "Lithographers Curse Principum" is reminiscent of Tortoise, but as it moves to regal repose and paints a painstakingly detailed façade, it claims territory on its own. Shimmering drums underline conflict aside from the pristine, rehearsed exterior."Lithographers Curse Fatalis" features the flickering glow of an uncertain fate; it feels foreboding but live-giving. The track moves to a din of steadily treading guitars, like a dissonant mire to wade through before reaching rebellious victory. Shunting, incessant layers compound fervently, throttling and chugging in hard-wrought glory. "Fatalis" drives "Principum" in to the ground and hints at the spectacle of This Alibis live show; the pairing of these two tracks will undoubtedly draw the masses out to witness in person.A work of interesting contrasts, the closer, "Ask the Dust", symbolizes the albums vision as a whole: it resides tentatively between peace and the absence of peace. Its spacey spookiness and thunderous clatter collide with bare moments of tranquility. The oases are most needed and unexpected, bringing the EP to its point: it could be one long battle without end, and likewise, one extended song without resolution. In total, it chronicles a great, unabated struggle; its repetition, uncertain momentum, and self-cleansing motions connote endlessness. The result shows This Alibis keenness, as there is no need for an end; for the band and their unique perspective, this is only the beginning...
Reviewed by Sarah Peters (Lost at Sea magazine- Ames,IA) May, 06’