third transmission::meet me on echo echo terracereleased on graveface records
26 february 2008
reviews:"Four years is far too long to wait for new material from a group as dynamic as this Austin space rock quartet. Thankfully, the pay off is considerable. As
with their second album, their third one (Third Transmission, get it?) represents another exponential leap forward from their previous efforts. It’s clear from the opening track, “Stellarâ€, where the guitars and effects pedals soar across the horizon, blanketing Rachel Staggs’ dulcet crooning in a blustery storm cloud, that this is one of the finest American shoegazing bands of the past decade. But the real revelation here is TJ O’Leary, whose lead vocals on tracks like “Upper East Side†adds a harsher, more insistent rock feel to the band’s ethereal soundscapes. Here’s hoping that their fourth transmission will materialize sometime before 2012.
–The Big Takeover
"Third Transmission: Meet Me On Echo Echo Terrace is the third album from the Austin, Texas based Experimental Aircraft. Having been absent for quite some time now, the band has come back as strong as ever with this wonderful album. As far as spacey/shoegaze releases go so far this year, this has definitely found a place among the top of the early pile. In actuality I should use the word shoegaze somewhat loosely with them, as they are much more than your average distortion heavy “wall of sound†type of band. They manage to blend elements of indie-rock and hints of psychedelic influence within the distant sounding fuzz. Experimental Aircraft sound very much like a product of where they are from, with songs that stretch and reveal a hint of haunting loneliness that one can easily be consumed by living in such an area. It sets the mood perfectly. Adding to it all is one of my favorite aspects of the band, which are the gorgeous vocals from singer Rachel Staggs. Her soft drifting vocals complement the bands overall forlorn sound perfectly with her injecting that slight ounce of hope among it all."
- Built on a Weak Spot
"This review should have been written two years ago when Love for the Last Time was scheduled for its original release. The album was in the can, but troubles with the Austin space rock quartets former label, Devil in the Woods, caused delays and the follow-up to Experimental Aircrafts impressive 2000 debut sat on the shelf. Both the songs and the playing are much more accomplished this time around. Brooding guitars cascade and crash around Rachel Staggss melancholy voice on the aptly titled "Symphony," while a beefy, propulsive rhythm section drives songs like "Johnny" and "Seasick" with a sense of urgent purpose. If 4AD has any sense, theyll pick this band up. They havent had anything this strong on their roster since the heyday of Lush and the Pale Saints."
-The Big Takeover
"From time to time, sounds are made that prove electricity to be a necessity. The elongated, ebbing waves that earned Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation a spot in heaven. The slow hypnosis of Bardo Pond's "Aldrin" or the shrill sensurround of Flying Saucer Attack's New Lands. Lee "Scratch" Perry's subversive, psychotic suggestions. The last half-minute or so of "Symphony," Love For The Last Time's opener, dares to nudge the above for a small spot at the foot of the sonic bed. After building from Rachel Staggs's breathy, semi-coherent pronouncements, the band sets the controls for hyperspace and plunges forward, guaranteeing the rest of the album a listeners' unbroken attention. How Experimental Aircraft delivers "Contemplative Silence" answers the question, "What would it sound like if George Harrison had ever played slide guitar with My Bloody Valentine?" One earful of the intro to "Seasick" and it's apparent Ex Air has found god. So here's a raised tonic to Ben Franklin, knowing he too couldn't leave well enough alone."
-Magnet Magazine
"What really makes Love For the Last Time excellent is the clash between noise and beauty, the beauty being the gorgeous vocals of Rachel Staggs. Her voice is so sweet, it should be illegal. When it's combined with the music, it makes the noise seem tame, yet dangerous. Guitarist TJ O'Leary's singing provides a nice yin to her yang. He's just as doped-out in his singing, and when he joins Staggs on "Elephant," it feels like you're in the presence of a shoegazing Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. "
- Mundane Sounds"It is rare to find that album that continually, in one instance or another, finds its way into your cd player or mp3 player. For me, Experimental Aircraft's Love for the Last Time is one of those albums. I consistently start looking through my cd wallet in the car and desire to hear the angelic vocals of Rachel Staggs, perfect percussion of Jason, ghostly vocals of TJ, the subtle bass work of Mark and the atmospheric guitars of Rachel, TJ and Jason. With the combination of these musicians and the fantastic song writing, dream pop/shoegaze never sounded so fresh and amazing.
"Symphony" begins showcasing Experimental Aircraft's (ExAir) incredible sound. Rachel (Staggs) instantly demonstrates her hypnotic vocals over simple guitar that turns into soaring guitars and intricate percussion. The backbeat in this song along with the subtle bass work is addicting. On the heals of "Symphony," "Johnny" once again demonstrates Jason's brilliant percussion work. He seems to use the whole kit and, yet, never overdoes it or seems too busy. TJ also appears on this track as a vocalist to compliment Rachel. Subtle pings and blips are added to the song for depth in the midst of the noise.
"Contemplative Silence" is a slow tempo song with shimmery guitars and powerful builds. The longer the listener sits with the album, the more they realize that Rachel has a charismatic and enchanting voice. That, coupled with the bands guitar work, Mark's bass work and Jason's percussion, ExAir produces a sound that truly is a symphony. Everything about this album screams depth. "Tired Way" gives the listener a respite from the faster songs by slowing it down a bit. TJ's and Rachel's vocals play off one another in ghostlike fashion over shimmering soundscapes and a spacey vibe in the background. The feel of the song is languid and really conveys the title well throughout the composition. After lulling the listener into quiet comfort, ExAir jolts the audience awake with distortion that leads the listener into an incredibly catchy track called "Seasick." The vocals by TJ are fantastically haunting on this track and Mark's bass work is amazing. The guitar work is haunting as well, complimenting the vocals, as TJ and Rachel play off of each other and layer their intimate melodies. A low-end pulse begins "Suspended." After the low-end pulse, Rachel breaks out into light, airy vocals. This track has a more stripped down feel than the previous tracks. It demonstrates ExAir's ability to quiet down and still write an incredible engaging song. "Elephant" rounds out the album. It has a sort of tribal beat with glimmering guitars and TJ's brooding vocals. Again, Rachel's vocals compliment TJ's and they make an incredible duo. This set of musicians really finishes off a superb album with amazing precision, beautiful melody and incredible sound.
ExAir has produced a coherent album with superb songwriting, catchy melody, and precise musicianship. Rachel, TJ, Mark, and Jason make up a band that should be watched by all music lovers in the coming years. If this is just their sophomore album, I can't wait to see what comes next."
-SomewhereCold.com College Radio Promotion by Nina Wilson for Apples & Cats Media.
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