Enablers - Tundra

  by Peter Allison

published: 28 / 2 / 2009

---

Review

'Tundra' is the third post-rock/spoken-word album by Enablers. While others have called this album heavy, my own opinion is distinctly more reserved, and I would prefer to call it resolute. Upon first listening to this album, my first impression was that it was an advert for a popular brand of coffee, for so similar in tone and speech was Pete Simonelli (vocals) to the voiceovers in those, that I was constantly experiencing caffeine cravings. These unintentional allusions to caffeine based products aside, this is an ambitious project, and in some ways similar is style to 'The White Room' by the KLF (their track, not the album). The question, however, of whether this is a good album or not is debatable. Conventionally, it is refreshingly unique, yet at the same time I was almost tempted to dismiss it. It was only after I realised that an hour had passed whilst listening to the CD, that I found myself revising my opinion. This is not a conventional music album in any shape or form, but neither is it a bad album. Pete Simonelli’s monologues lulls you into a lethargic state of contemplation, so I can only conclude it is best listened to when relaxing in the evening. My main criticism with this album is its lack of diversity. While this is a necessary evil in order to ensure flow, it is unfortunately taken to excess here. I found that I had listened to over half the album without realising we had changed tracks! Although I found myself initially ambivalent towards it, I was eventually impressed by its skill and ambition. This is not an album I will listen to often. It is, however, an album that I will listen to again and be impressed by.

Track Listing:-

1 A Blues
2 The Destruction Most of All
3 Carriage
4 New Moon
5 Februaries
6 Tundra
7 The Achievement
8 Kosovo
9 The Bells
10 Four Women

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Enabler
http://www.enablerssf.com/
http://www.enablers.fr/Enablers.html
http://enablers.bandcamp.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enablers

Label Links:-

http://www.mainstreamrecords.de/