Eschar – ‘Nova’ [Album Review]
Al Heslop of Creative Control Studios seems to be the go-to guy for Surrey and Hampshire’s top instrumental post-rock bands. It wasn’t too long ago that For Astronauts and Satellites dropped their Creative Control-enhanced album A Homing Light – and now long-time TMMP favourites Eschar have their first full-length album ready to go, in the form of Nova. Needless to say, the production suits the music perfectly.
The Eschar name is synonymous with mind-boggling post-rock proggery, taking in all kinds of odd elements. What sets Eschar apart is their love of not only odd-meter time signatures, but also easily accessible melodies and frequent employment of more conventional rhythmic devices. Many prog acts come across like they’re challenging the world to the musical equivalent of a staring contest – and while that approach does often result in incredible music, it also turns a lot of people off. Despite the popularity of bands like Biffy Clyro, the majority of music fans still aren’t ready to face labyrinthine polyrhythmic insanity on a daily basis just yet.
If you’re curious about progressive music but worry about being overwhelmed, Nova is a great place to start your voyage into the most unpredictable of genres. Arrangement-wise, Nova is immense, taking in everything from peaceful and spacious clean sections (opening track Aphotic); my favourite 5/4 section since Marmozets’ Cry (title track Nova); long, drawn-out notes (interlude Echoes and Reflections); and a winning bassless break section during This Is Not For You which may be my favourite moment out of all of them. In terms of track length, six of Nova‘s nine tracks are in the five-to-ten-minute range – but they’re so well constructed, and go by so smoothly, that you’ll feel like you’ve just listened to a punk song when you reach the end of each one.
Eschar have officially come into their own on Nova. Fans of previous release Elements will love it – but there’s plenty for prog diehards and complete newbies to get into as well. I can’t recommend this album enough.
TMMP RATING: 93%
Links / Listen
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