With Avoiding The Consequences, A Shoreline Dream are trying to take a visual concept and translate it into audible art. By creating symphonic waves of atmospheric, largely instrumental rock they are trying to convey the desperation of a soul starved of personal freedom and artistic autonomy. This fight to break free from the subjugating bonds of a society that is blind to the beauty of difference is one we can all relate to.
However Avoiding The Consequences falls short of this goal. Although the instrumentation is incredibly intense and accomplished, it isn’t as experimental as it could have been given the high aspirations of the band members — Ryan Policky (vox, guitar, keyboards), Erik Jeffries (guitar), Gabriel Ratliff (drums) and Enoc Torrace (bass). A Shoreline Dream seem afraid to take that leap away from the prog-rock mainstream and swim against the tide of post trip-hop sounds. That said, I don’t think anything could have lived up to their artistic vision, but little ever does. The entire concept of creating visual sound is something many have tried, including Beethoven and laser light shows, but few have accomplished.
A Shoreline Dream has succeeded in creating a dazzling and ethereal first full-length album. As one would expect given their name, the overall feeling of the album is of being awash in ambient orchestral rock, the layered sounds cascading over you, flowing into the spaces of your ears and rushing to fill your auditory sense with beautiful heartfelt music. It does manage to convey a feeling of yearning and desire but for what is unclear. Not that it needs to be clear — you can decide that part yourself.
The entwined dreamscape sounds of Avoiding The Consequences never fail to disappoint. And you can always hear A Shoreline Dream’s musical influences – Sigur Ros, Slowdrive, Interpol and a touch of Placebo. Anyone who is a fan of the post-prog rock, shoegazer or trip-hop school of sound should love this album with all their tender little heart.
If you would like to listen to Avoiding The Consequences you can visit A Shoreline Dream's own website or you can visit their MySpace page.
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Good job, A.L.!
2 - A.L. Harper
Thank you! Praise from any other writer is always welcome but more so from someone who is so talented themselves!
3 - manny hernandez
I find their sound to be deeply rooted in shoegazing and as such they reminded me a lot of Slowdive, which is to say they did a fine job of rescueing this genre that peaked during the early nineties, along with others such as Hammock (also highly recommendable). I loved their work!