‘While Walking’ is the self titled debut album by Barcelona based post rock lovers Callum (double-neck guitar/bass with a loop pedal) and Ingrid (drums).
At first listen the duo emanate a straightforward, intense, melancholic homage to such legends as Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor. Despite the dark foreboding feeling that ‘post rock’ usually offers, While Walking delivers a subtle subversive optimism. Perhaps this lightness shines through due to the fact that this band simply seems incredibly happy to be playing music with each other. You can tell that in the process of putting this collection together that they were truly paying attention to the details and have dedicated a few years to rehearsal and preparation before going into Arcticwave Studio in Barcelona to record. Throughout the album the bands live performance is tight and the production quality is flawlessly on point.
“Despite the dark foreboding feeling that ‘post rock’ usually offers, While Walking delivers a subtle subversive optimism”
Though Callum plays both bass and guitar with his double-neck and loop pedal, the music does not become monotonous or repetitive as often happens when working with looping devices. His bass lines are swift, precise and with a warmth of tone that punches through while melodic semi-distorted, shimmering guitar lines cut across the bands soundscape. He weaves guitar hooks and melodies like an architect of arpeggio, colour and timbre. All the while Ingrid’s drumming is precise and powerful, while never becoming mundane or typical, she conveys a sensitivity to the sentimental terrain of each song. Together on this album they seem to build a story that does not need words.
“He weaves guitar hooks and melodies like an architect of arpeggio, colour and timbre”
Despite that the album’s cover is a hand written letter that offers an abstract insight towards the essence of the band, the album does not contain any vocals or samples, and remains a complex but uncomplicated meditation on post rock affection and musical craftsmanship. The overall artistic quality of While Walking draws the listener into an introspective daze whilst causing them to unconsciously head rock to the beat. This is an excellent album to go on a walk around a new city with, or to sit at home with on a rainy day, it conjures up an appreciation for taking one’s time.
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