Without End

As I alluded to in my previous post, there is a great deal of continuity between Finneyerkes' three releases. Without End, the second installment in the present trilogy, is a powerful follow-up to the exquisite Gather & Sing, which I sincerely hope you've taken the time to check out. The album opens with the track "Elsie," currently one of my favorite tracks by the band. The immensity of the sound is impressive. Layers of rich guitars envelop the listener, subtly beckoning one to a place that can only be half-imagined, even in dreams. Finney's spoken word is more masterful than ever on this album. His parched and fragile drawl drifts through the ether like the memories of childhood - sweet and irretrievable. There are many poignant moments on Without End - the dense beat on the track "Riopelle," the unexpected, yet welcome forcefulness of "Erna" - and I fully expect that it is many listeners' favorite album by the duo. Without End is as potent a creative statement as you are likely to find this year. It fiercely reaffirms that Finneyerkes is a band that does not fail to deliver.

(Again, Without End is available for free download on the band's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/finneyerkes. Regardless of your feelings about post rock or ambient music, the album deserves to be heard. Like the best artists, there is something universal about the emotions Finneyerkes convey through their music.)