The Thought Industry Short Wave On A Cold Day
Metal Blade 2002
By Russell Garwood
It is difficult to imagine when listening to Short Wave On A Cold Day that The Thought Industrys roots are firmly seated in the metal genre. This, the quintets sixth release, is a diverse album of uplifting, unpredictable and memorable music. The vocals are occasionally reminiscent of The Notwist and Placebo, while the post-rocky drums and violins are comparable to Godspeed You Black Emperor (in the latters more intense moments). Parallels can be drawn between My Bloody Valentine and The Thought Industry; pop buried beneath a deluge of shimmering guitars. There are also occasional Radiohead and Sigur Ros-esque sections in this sporadically progressive album, on which the slightly pretentious song titles show further Godspeed similarities:
Metal Blade 2002
By Russell Garwood
It is difficult to imagine when listening to Short Wave On A Cold Day that The Thought Industrys roots are firmly seated in the metal genre. This, the quintets sixth release, is a diverse album of uplifting, unpredictable and memorable music. The vocals are occasionally reminiscent of The Notwist and Placebo, while the post-rocky drums and violins are comparable to Godspeed You Black Emperor (in the latters more intense moments). Parallels can be drawn between My Bloody Valentine and The Thought Industry; pop buried beneath a deluge of shimmering guitars. There are also occasional Radiohead and Sigur Ros-esque sections in this sporadically progressive album, on which the slightly pretentious song titles show further Godspeed similarities:
- Satan In The Gift Shop
- I'm Lonely (And Grooving Like Cancer)
- The Waitress In The Bar Orbiting Io
- Burning Coal With Margaret
- Tall Ships On The Rocks
- Kiss Judy Fly
- The Measure Of Our Miles
- Lovers In Flames
- A Week And Seven Days
- Particle Hustler
- Longfellow
- Hello, Murder
- So Says Ike
- Beautiful Coma
- Interstellar Fix
- Alien And Pure[/list=1]
Short Wave On A Cold Day starts with a deliberately off-key rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, before progressing into the downcast, touching Satan In The Gift Shop. With its thick guitars, effects-laden vocals and well-judged gaps, this is one of the best songs on the album, and is followed by the more upbeat (musically) Im Lonely (And Grooving Like Cancer). Track three The Waitress In The Bar Orbiting Io is the first indication of an interest in astronomy evident throughout the album, and musically is a more groovy piece with strong bass which contrasts the wailing guitars to perfection. Burning Coal With Margaret, a more conventional song, is followed by the laid back Tall Ships On The Rocks. Next comes Kiss Judy Fly a more personal and jumpier proposition than previous tracks, and The Measure Of Our Miles introduces a slower and more considered side to the band.
An entirely acoustic piece, Lovers In Flames provides some welcome variation before the electric guitars of A Week And Seven Days kick in. Track ten, Particle Hustler, is busy and insane, but was well placed because the slower Longfellow which follows differs greatly. Hello, Murder is fairly nondescript, but So Says Ike is excellent which only makes not skipping the previous track harder. Beautiful Coma is pleasant, but less interesting, and penultimate song Interstellar Fix, 2056 introduces a slightly jazzier feel to the established formula. Closing track Alien Pure has so much going on that it is hard to concentrate on any one component, but is nothing compared to the madness of the untitled track at the end of the album, a bizarre amalgamation of parts that dont quite fit together, yet at the same time complement each other.
At sixteen tracks this is a long album which can intermittently feel samey, but there is enough variation to avoid monotony. Vocalist Oberlins lyrics are slightly surreal with a hint of psychedelia and fit the music perfectly. The Thought Industry have created here a diverse yet coherent album, drawing inspiration from so many places that the result is quite unique. Short Wave On A Cold Day is an inspirational album, and while it may not suit more short-sighted listeners, for every-one else it is essential...
