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Do Make Say Think - You; You're A History In Rust Do Make Say Think were formed by three Toronto roommates in 1995 for a Canadian youth dramatic production. Charles Spearin, James Payment and Justin Small created a performance-lead group that based itself around an experimentally improvised collection of eight-track recordings. Within a year their compositions teemed with largely instrumental sections, reflecting a more ambient, progressive and intriguing style that’s captivated a small cult following. By 1997 the band, reminiscent of early Tortoise and Flying Saucer Attack, had independently released their first self-titled studio album, boasting the force of five talented artists. Now, after the release of their fifth album You; You’re A History In Rust and years of publicity from their infamous record label Constellation (GSYBE!, Silver Mt Zion, Fly Pan Am) the group have delivered their promising potential. Somehow though, even with their plethora of jazzy ‘musician’s music’ and an occasional seven-man-mini-orchestra, their fan base hasn’t dramatically increased. This eight-track, forty-two minute album is once again a blissful, calming fortitude of carefully crafted music from one of the most original artists in contemporary composition. For example, the sheer wealth of instrumentation used in the opening track “Bound To Be That Way” tosses most artists aside. Saxophones, guitars, flutes, trumpets, keyboards and percussion are all present as beautiful harpsichord effects wash behind the slow building and occasionally chaotic crescendos. “A With Living”, the second track, is amazing. A subtle, warm, caring song of picturesque quality that ebbs and swells with choral vocals and poeticism. Brilliant. If their first use of solo vocals wasn’t surprise enough, “The Universe” storms your once peaceful room with distorted, hypnotic hyper-activity that guarantees a surge of excitement, until it sinks suddenly into the title track. The latter half of the album then blurs into one lulling, dream like movement of psychedelic proportions and is musically closer to their earlier work, with layers of horns, violins and disjointed jazz drumming. “Herstory Of Glory”, with its strong melodic drive, is a particular highlight, but the ending track “In mind” is truly the pinnacle of this album. The slow building pace of the last fifteen minutes finally climaxes into one last burst of jazz-infected drive and choral backing, which is reinforced by some of the most quotable lyrics in modern music. I’ve tried to think of bands to compare to Do Make Say Think and nothing springs to mind; they are unique. In places there are touches of Tortoise and echoes of De Facto’s more solid work. But even these do not reflect the band’s true ingenuity. I’ll admit that not all the recordings are as consistent as Goodbye Enemy Airship, nor do they paint the same calming paradise of & Yet & Yet. Still, who really wants the same album from a group that are continuing to exceed their promise? As with all instrumental music You; You’re A History In Rust really takes a few listens. It grows on you and eventually, somehow grows with you. It manages to record a time in your life: a moment of clarity, peace, or a feeling of joy. With the help of this musical snapshot, you will never want to forget it. dm manning |
