Rosetta Wake/Lift
Translation Loss Records TL23-2 October 2, 2007
By Jason Jordan
The difficulty in tackling an ambitious, epic project say, a double disc debut is that it will likely eclipse the efforts that follow. Lending credence to that assertion is that Rosettas The Galilean Satellites left an impression that Wake/Lift cant quite live up to, even if it is a very good sophomore outing. Also of note is the overt success of the Balboa/Rosetta split Project Mercury, which was released in April on Level Plane instead of Translation Loss. All that aside, though, Phillys Rosetta prove once again that theyre a top contender in the Neur-Isis-inspired market. Unfortunately, that market is losing its appeal due to supersaturation.
While Wake/Lift consists of only seven songs, the album lasts for over an hour. Similar to likeminded records, Rosetta offer excessively long songs (Red in Tooth and Claw [12:15], Wake [9:27], Temet Nosce [14:55], and Monument [13:30]), and ones that could be considered short, which are limited to the three-part, Lift series. Again, as this niche requires, they also employ the crashing/drifting dichotomy without sacrificing emotion in either instance. Somehow, the material tugs at the heartstrings even though it seems recycled. After all, the past few years have witnessed an influx of Neur-Isis disciples (TL has another frontrunner in the fold under the name of Mouth of the Architect), and thats what prevents me from declaring Wake/Lift a necessary purchase. It is moving and powerful, however, in spite of its flaws.
Official Rosetta Website
Official Translation Loss Records Website
Translation Loss Records TL23-2 October 2, 2007
By Jason Jordan
The difficulty in tackling an ambitious, epic project say, a double disc debut is that it will likely eclipse the efforts that follow. Lending credence to that assertion is that Rosettas The Galilean Satellites left an impression that Wake/Lift cant quite live up to, even if it is a very good sophomore outing. Also of note is the overt success of the Balboa/Rosetta split Project Mercury, which was released in April on Level Plane instead of Translation Loss. All that aside, though, Phillys Rosetta prove once again that theyre a top contender in the Neur-Isis-inspired market. Unfortunately, that market is losing its appeal due to supersaturation.
While Wake/Lift consists of only seven songs, the album lasts for over an hour. Similar to likeminded records, Rosetta offer excessively long songs (Red in Tooth and Claw [12:15], Wake [9:27], Temet Nosce [14:55], and Monument [13:30]), and ones that could be considered short, which are limited to the three-part, Lift series. Again, as this niche requires, they also employ the crashing/drifting dichotomy without sacrificing emotion in either instance. Somehow, the material tugs at the heartstrings even though it seems recycled. After all, the past few years have witnessed an influx of Neur-Isis disciples (TL has another frontrunner in the fold under the name of Mouth of the Architect), and thats what prevents me from declaring Wake/Lift a necessary purchase. It is moving and powerful, however, in spite of its flaws.
Official Rosetta Website
Official Translation Loss Records Website
