Rosetta The Galilean Satellites
Translation Loss Records TL9 October 18th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
From the label that brought you the wonderful Mouth of the Architect album in 2004 comes the equally stunning Rosetta with their debut, The Galilean Satellites. The latter can easily be herded in with bands such as Neurosis, Isis, Pelican, Red Sparowes, Jesu, Mouth of the Architect, Una Corda Explosions in the Sky, Cult of Luna, Deadbird, Capricorns, Minsk, and Overmars. Did I leave anyone out? But unlike metalcore, which rose to popularity and stagnated immediately afterwards, this new brand known as Neurosis-core is quickly becoming as saturated as any other subgenre. However, as far as this shtick is concerned, every effort Ive sunk my teeth into has had a decent portion of idiosyncratic tendencies. To elucidate, when I look at the list of groups above, I can remember what each and every one of them sounds like, and what characteristic differentiates one from another. While Rosetta dont quite deserve the best of the lot award, The Galilean Satellites does indeed meet the quality requirements unknowingly constructed by their predecessors. And for me, this record is the best debut released during 2005.
So whats all the fuss about then? Ill tell you. First of all, this four-piece didnt take the easy route. This full-length is epic both in scope and execution, with the latter being exquisite, and is a double-disc collection spanning two (!) full hours. The first disc is an hour, contains five songs, and all of the compositions are long some even surpass the fifteen-minute mark. No matter which style the quartet chooses to adopt, from ambient to drone to sludge, these songs are beautiful and enthralling, magical in their delivery, enrapturing at all moments. Of particular note is the instrumental Absent, because its a culmination of all their abilities. Rosetta can incorporate slowness, fastness, lightness, heaviness, sparseness, denseness, or any other combination, and weave it into one song convincingly. The tunes sprawl for ages, but whether youre focusing on the album exclusively or listening to it as background music, it wont get boring. The drumming is incredible as well, becoming a focal point at least once during each song.
The second disc is a different kind of monster. It abandons mostly everything except for guitar, piano, and electronic effects there are distorted vocals on Beta Aquilae however but disc two of two isnt quite as edifying as its fraternal twin. Chances are, one of the two CDs is going to be lost in the shuffle. Even so, in addition to each disc being standalone, they can be synced without resulting in a jumbled mess. I havent tried it myself. That would require getting off my ass, and I cant have that. Either way, though, its a cool idea admittedly stolen from Neurosis and Tribes of Neurot. When I was thinking of ways to summarize the second part of The Galilean Satellites, I was reminded of the phrase Chroma Key borrowed from those astronauts on You Go Now: magnificent desolation. And its a fitting recollection since this outing is, like, totally in love with space.
The music isnt the only reason to purchase a copy of Rosettas full-length. Besides the length and reasonable price, the artwork is amazing and supplemented with gatefold packaging designed by none other than Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, Hydra Head Records). Like Turner, Armines (vocals, electronics) hands are in several cookie jars, as he plays in Rosetta, Mykado, and is a staff member of Translation Loss Records. Regarding their competition, these guys have thumped most of it, simultaneously releasing one of the better records of the year. The Galilean Satellites is grandiose without being pretentious, and remarkable without ever being over-the-top. Interestingly enough, though its two hours, theres no filler here. If you dont already own Mouth of the Architects Time & Withering, then pick up both of these in one fell swoop. Neither improves on the subgenre, but theyre both magnificent regardless of their deficiencies.
9/10
Official Rosetta Website
Official Translation Loss Records Website
Translation Loss Records TL9 October 18th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
From the label that brought you the wonderful Mouth of the Architect album in 2004 comes the equally stunning Rosetta with their debut, The Galilean Satellites. The latter can easily be herded in with bands such as Neurosis, Isis, Pelican, Red Sparowes, Jesu, Mouth of the Architect, Una Corda Explosions in the Sky, Cult of Luna, Deadbird, Capricorns, Minsk, and Overmars. Did I leave anyone out? But unlike metalcore, which rose to popularity and stagnated immediately afterwards, this new brand known as Neurosis-core is quickly becoming as saturated as any other subgenre. However, as far as this shtick is concerned, every effort Ive sunk my teeth into has had a decent portion of idiosyncratic tendencies. To elucidate, when I look at the list of groups above, I can remember what each and every one of them sounds like, and what characteristic differentiates one from another. While Rosetta dont quite deserve the best of the lot award, The Galilean Satellites does indeed meet the quality requirements unknowingly constructed by their predecessors. And for me, this record is the best debut released during 2005.
So whats all the fuss about then? Ill tell you. First of all, this four-piece didnt take the easy route. This full-length is epic both in scope and execution, with the latter being exquisite, and is a double-disc collection spanning two (!) full hours. The first disc is an hour, contains five songs, and all of the compositions are long some even surpass the fifteen-minute mark. No matter which style the quartet chooses to adopt, from ambient to drone to sludge, these songs are beautiful and enthralling, magical in their delivery, enrapturing at all moments. Of particular note is the instrumental Absent, because its a culmination of all their abilities. Rosetta can incorporate slowness, fastness, lightness, heaviness, sparseness, denseness, or any other combination, and weave it into one song convincingly. The tunes sprawl for ages, but whether youre focusing on the album exclusively or listening to it as background music, it wont get boring. The drumming is incredible as well, becoming a focal point at least once during each song.
The second disc is a different kind of monster. It abandons mostly everything except for guitar, piano, and electronic effects there are distorted vocals on Beta Aquilae however but disc two of two isnt quite as edifying as its fraternal twin. Chances are, one of the two CDs is going to be lost in the shuffle. Even so, in addition to each disc being standalone, they can be synced without resulting in a jumbled mess. I havent tried it myself. That would require getting off my ass, and I cant have that. Either way, though, its a cool idea admittedly stolen from Neurosis and Tribes of Neurot. When I was thinking of ways to summarize the second part of The Galilean Satellites, I was reminded of the phrase Chroma Key borrowed from those astronauts on You Go Now: magnificent desolation. And its a fitting recollection since this outing is, like, totally in love with space.
The music isnt the only reason to purchase a copy of Rosettas full-length. Besides the length and reasonable price, the artwork is amazing and supplemented with gatefold packaging designed by none other than Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, Hydra Head Records). Like Turner, Armines (vocals, electronics) hands are in several cookie jars, as he plays in Rosetta, Mykado, and is a staff member of Translation Loss Records. Regarding their competition, these guys have thumped most of it, simultaneously releasing one of the better records of the year. The Galilean Satellites is grandiose without being pretentious, and remarkable without ever being over-the-top. Interestingly enough, though its two hours, theres no filler here. If you dont already own Mouth of the Architects Time & Withering, then pick up both of these in one fell swoop. Neither improves on the subgenre, but theyre both magnificent regardless of their deficiencies.
9/10
Official Rosetta Website
Official Translation Loss Records Website
