Engineers

You have to admit, a self-titled album by a band called "The Engineers" sounds generic and instantly forgettable guitar rock. Nine out of ten times, such an album probably would be.

Well, it isn't.

The Engineers make a surprisingly memorable debut, by setting themselves smack between slow-burning rock music and ethereal soundscapes -- think half Eno, half Beta Band. The lush pop that results is unique in sound, wide in scope, and short on flaws.

It opens on a strong note with "Home": buzzing, jangling guitars, angelic stoned vocals, some swelling strings, and delicate synth that goes from tinkly to airy. It has a great symphonic sound that not many bands can accomplish, and it does so without being melodramatic.

The songs that follow tend to veer in one direction or another: Some of them are a lot more rock-oriented than the first song. These won't win any prizes for grittiness, however. Even the hardest song on here still sounds a bit like psychfolk. In other words, don't expect "Thrasher" to live up to its name -- there's a buzzing bassline in the background, but nothing really hard.

And when they're softer... well, often they sound like Air on a hardcore day. Songs like "New Horizons" have the same delicate, ethereal sound, and the ambient sweeps you'd expect from a downtempo band. It peaks with "Peter Street," a minute of swooping synth bands that peak and then fade away.

Most bands can't really manage multiple sounds well, or blend different kinds of music together -- in this case, rock rhythms with rich sonic expanses. But the London quartet Engineers not only do this, they succeed wonderfully. The only real flaw is that some songs overstay their welcome, and could have used a bit of trimming in the last half.

The vocals sound a bit stoner-rockish; these guys sound mellow enough to melt. Simon Phipps and Mark Peters often sing separately, but in some songs their vocals tangle together or harmonize. No, not in the same song. But their singing is more like another instrument, especially since the actual words are hard to make out.

The Engineers were quite correct when they said, "We don't sound like The White Stripes. We don't sound like Coldplay. We don't sound like anything current." No, they don't. Their symphonic psychedelic rock sounds like something entirely their own.

Because I think that the more you know about something the more you appreciate it, I will tell you that I heard about this album by visiting Ulrich Schnauss' website http://www.ulrich-schnauss.net/ ("far away trains passing by" and "a strangely isolated place") and reviewing his best albums of 2004. There were a number there.. and I will tell you I have not been disappointed in purchasing any of them without even a single listen or sample for most of them. The Engineers was one album on that list. Somehow they have been categorized as shoe gazing music in some circles, and while some of the songs may fit that title I might say that I am more reminded of Verve, Slowdive, Blur, and Ride rather than the guitar driven wall of sound of My Bloody Valentine by listening to this. On first listen I did not have anything click but as it went into random play on my multidisk CD player everytime I would say, "hey what is that--I like it".. it would turn out to be the Engineers. After multiple listens I find myself reminded of the same feelings I had during learning about Verve and Slowdive. The music is similar but not fully the same.

Grinding and melodic guitars... bittersweet lyrics (a bittersweet symphony?)... the right blending of electronics and acoustics.

Apparently these guys are from London. So why oh why did I have to actually have it delivered from Germany as an import at close to $20? It was worth it -- really. I just wonder where CMJ places it when it is so difficult to get. Is anyone playing this fantastic album anywhere in the US? They should be. Haven't heard on XM... anyone heard it on Sirius? Where are the samples on Amazon? Of course, my "friend" Ulrich was right on the mark about this and so many other great albums that I never heard in 2004! No prelisten necessary!

Notable and among the most enduring songs on this album are "Forgiven" (which is also available as another mix on the "other" album "Folly") and "Thrasher". Forgiven was the released single.. that someone must be (please!?) is playing somewhere. I guess I have to move to Germany or England just to hear this stuff.

You really cannot go wrong paying some money for the import. Or go wrong by purchasing the other album "Folly". Both are fantastic and wonderful. Or waiting to get it directly from Germany (London imports from Germany OK ...now I know we must be in some strange world economy).

If you liked some of the older Verve, Slowdive, Ride, or older Blur, I assure you that you find enough similarities here to make you love a whole new aspect of this type of music.

I picked up Engineers' album more or less because I liked the cover art (along with the stellar NME review). Although I enjoyed the album upon first listen, it slowly grew on me. A few months after my purchase, I had become practically addicted to this somewhat obscure new group.

Engineers practice sort of a 21st century style of shoegazer pop (think Lush or My Bloody Valentine). There are more electronics in the mix than traditional shoegazer music, but they are seamlessly integrated into the sonic tapestry, and not like a square peg in a round hole as is often the case with electronics in rock. The disc has a well done mix of live drums and IDM-style programmed drums. Things start wonderfully with the majestic "home," and really pick up steam with "Forgiveness" (my CD includes a rather creepy video for this song). "Let's Just See" and the not-as-loud-as-it-sounds "Thrasher" are also standout tracks. I'm a musician who records using my computer, and I unconsciously recreated "Let's Just See"- probably as a result of having it stuck in my head so long.

There really aren't any other bands creating music like this right now. Engineers have a sound with clear influences, but have sucessfully taken those influences into their own sonic cathedral.

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