Member Since: 1/31/2005
Band Website: geocities.com/allcombinations/
Band Members: Josh Goldman-bass. Justin Kehoe-drums, vibes. Dave Mclaughlin-guitar. Michelle Brown-piano, organ. Andy Arch-vocals. Molly Seamans-vocals.
Influences: Mogwai, God Speed you Black Emperor, Do Make Say Think, 90 Day Men, Helms
Sounds Like: "Ghosts is among the best albums of 2005, and All Combinations one of the most hopeful acts we've heard in a long time" -- New York Press
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Northeast Performer--
Forging music that borrows from many and yet fuses together in a unique and inspiring way is no mean feat. Neither is birthing an album where sadness, creativity, and grace peacefully coexist. And the intersection of these two occurs far too rarely. How frustrating, then, that it’s so easy to miss. “mapped and coursed,†the album’s first song, starts off similar to any sub-par instrumental post-rock album. The song is a tone poem of sorts, with accompanying words printed on the lyric sheet. Only in the middle of the song that the first hints surface: the song disintegrates into washes of guitar and percussion, before picking up on its merry way. The second song is where the album reveal its true self, and the portrait continues to unfold until the very end. Male and female vocals enter (the first track is the only instrumental) and thus begins a slow but continuous evolution. The obvious musical influences are Mogwai and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, but reality is more diverse and nuanced: All Combinations rely on neither the volume of the former nor the false drama of the latter. Indeed, the music is perfectly suited to both the lyrics and their delivery. The vocals are subdued, and chronicle a sadness and confusion that’s weary, but not angry. These are the words of feeling dislocated in your own home, of feeling trapped, and seeing possibilities as well as your inability to grab them; it’s about feelings that are difficult to express, even more so to understand. This ability to delve – to put words and music around things we often don’t have the language to express – is what makes this album stunning. All the better that there is a dignity throughout gives a sense of determination, courage, and hope. (self-released) Reviewer -Ramsey Tantawi
Record Label: Randomnoise Records
Type of Label: None