Explosions In The Sky - How Strange Innocence

  by Daniel Cressey

published: 19 / 9 / 2005

---

Review

Explosions In The Sky say that at “certain points along the way” they wanted to buy up and burn all the original copies of this, their first album. Now 'How Strange Innocence' has been re-mastered, re-packaged and re-released in the wake of their rise to cult status and you can judge its merits for yourself. Explosions In The Sky have often to endure (or live up to) comparisons across the instrumental spectrum from Mogwai to Sigur Ros but this is more due to the narrow nature of that spectrum than anything else. They can sound as beautiful as the latter and as angry as the former (reverse those if you care to) and sometimes manage both at the same time. Their own brand of instrumental rock is more than this would imply – as demonstrated by this release. This album occupies an odd place in Explosions In The Sky's small body of work. They themselves seem to acknowledge this, having waited until other releases came closer to what they wanted to show. Although this is an erratic, inexperienced and occasionally careless album it is also capable of musical moments that can send shivers down spines. We should be grateful they failed to burn it from their past.

Track Listing:-

1 A Song For Our Fathers
2 Snow And Lights
3 Magic Hours
4 Look Into The Air
5 Glittering Blackness
6 Time Stops
7 Remember Me As A Time Of Day

Label Links:-

http://temporaryresidence.com/
https://www.facebook.com/temporaryresi
https://twitter.com/tempresltd
https://www.youtube.com/user/temporary
https://plus.google.com/+temporaryresi