Tenebre

In Everything Give Thanks (2006)

xshoutoutx

In a complete state of vexation with the utter bullshit music that has been getting reviewed lately (cough, cough Lil Wayne / Joe Budden / Bring Me the Horizon) and music of the likes, I've decided to review a CD and band I certainly think need way more appraise than they have received.

This brings me to a band called Tenebre and their 2006 release, In Everything Give Thanks.

Making music since 2003, the trio, consisting of guitarist Max Foreman, bassist Patrick Taylor and drummer Daniel Pearce, demonstrate their exemplary, technical instrumental musicianship on In Everything Give Thanks before 40 minutes of your day is even up. Euphonic in every sense of the word, every track melds together perfectly, blending the mathy circular fingertapping of the guitar with the jazz-infused drums and bass right behind it.

The record starts off with the track "The Story of a Boy on a Ladder," where the listener finds him/herself following every carefully calculated riff while it portrays the sounds of a boy perpetually attempting to make his way up what seems to be an endless ladder. The unrelenting two-fingered guitar tapping flutters about while both the bass and drum simultaneously orchestrate a soothing duet in the backdrop.

"A Call from Jane," one of my personal favorites, starts off with just the drums and bass releasing a technical jazz melody that persists through almost the entire song while, as usual, Foreman interjects peacefully with the tapping. This song has some really great drum fills throughout it, and really demonstrates Pearce's classical jazz influence. However, the real gem in this song doesn't arrive until about 1:27 into the song, where all of the sudden Foreman disrupts the tranquility and projects a tireless violent surge of TAP! This interlude captures the band at its pinnacle, and truly demonstrates their polyphonic ability to create harmony and chaos all at once.

I could continue to pull these personal abstractions out of my ass all night, but for my sanity along with yours, I will spare us some time here. The songs throughout the album continue to demonstrate this band's uncanny ability to create technical music without pretension or boastfulness attached. Every member works with one another, and although it seems I've been glorifying the guitar work the entire time (which I have been), this band truly works as a coalescent unit. In the last song, which is also the title track, "In Everything Give Thanks," the band incorporates some cello and horn parts into the melody and closes out the album pristinely with the fading of the drums.

Tenebre are some awesome guys, and if you ever get a chance to see them, make sure to treat yourself and perhaps your lover to it. This is sleepytime/ruminating music all at once. The words, In Everything Give Thanks, leave me feeling these guys are truly thankful for everything that has come their way thus far. Though they don't have the lyrics or words within their songs to back this presumption of mine up, it is ultimately the beautifully constructed dulcet melodies that drip from every second of every song that substantiate this conception of appreciation.

Other personal standout tracks:
"Somerset"
"Lies and Libations"
"Painting Walls"