Fly Pan Am
Sedatif En Frequences Et Sillions EP
(Constellation)
If you liked Fly Pan Am's Self-Titled release, but thought that it sagged just a bit too much in some places (which is basically how I felt, although I still think they managed to create some outstanding music on the disc), you might be more inclined to try them in a smaller dose, which is nearly exactly what Sedatif En Frequences Et Sillions does. While it does contain 3 tracks that run just about a half hour in time, the songs somehow still feel much tighter than the earlier release, and although there are moments where the group gets a bit repetitive, there's nothing like the 10 minute two-tone interval (which is just about the ultimate resolve-tester) that drops right in the middle of that first release.
In fact, the 14-minute opening track (with a hugely long title) is actually sort of a remix of what sounds like about 3 different tracks on the first disc. After a slight bit of shop noise hum, the track starts admirably with a nice two-chord build that works its way up for about 5 minutes while eerie sounds swirl around and and fight with dueling twinking and strummed guitars. Just when it's gotten some good steam going, though, it drops off into almost nothing again, with only a bit of clanging and scraping around before taking off into that beautiful two-step again for the last third of the track (with some ethereal female vocals to give things just the right amount of spooky feeling).
The second track "Efferant/Afferant" moves along with a lumbering backbeat while some bits of hazy static and guitar weave a rather hypnotic web over the top of it. Although it doens't change up a whole lot over the course of its 10 minute length, it somehow doesn't feel like its the slightest bit overlong. The final track on the album is also the shortest one that the group has ever done (other than perhaps their first split 7" with Godspeed You Black Emperor) and it's quite possibly their most claustrophobic. It's nearly all varying degrees of stereo panned noise, and instead of inspiring a faint bit of glimmering hope as some of their other tracks have, it's downright creepy and cold.
In the end, if you liked the other release by the group, you're probably not going to go wrong with this EP. They cover a bit of new ground with the release (a bit more of a cut-and-paste electronic feel on the first track), there isn't anything groundbreaking or different that's going to win over new fans. It's definitely easier to digest than the Self-Titled release, but still quite good.
Rating: 7
