Artist: Kwoon
Label: Self-released
Released: 2009
Length: 50:38
Rating: 4.1/5
The post-rock genre, like most of those that look for something more in rock music, is extremely interesting, diverse and definitely worth exploring. You can easily file it under progressive music, the kind of music that’s about more than a few chords, repeating distorted riffs and cliché lyrics. Still, post rock departs sharply from the average prog-rock concept, which gives it its own distinctive sound and character. One of the most talked-about bands of the kind right now is, say, Mono, the Japanese quartet that recently visited Slovenia, as well as Russian Circles, whom we got to hear this year. And then, who doesn’t know bands like Sigur Ros, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 65DaysOfStatic, Mogwai and Ulver?
Kwoon, French post-rockers, definitely belong in the same domain as all the bands listed above. Besides a love of music, the seven-piece lineup is bound together by an interest in everything supernatural and, judging by the band’s name, martial arts (kwoon is a Chinese word for a martial arts training space, like the Japanese dojo). The band formed back in 2006, and that same year they self-released their debut “Tales and Dreams”. The album sent the band soaring, as Kwoon quickly picked up an enviable number of fans, and the crowd keeps growing. Their music stood for the best of post rock, with the band focusing mainly on the ambient side of their sound. They stuck to the winning formula three years later on their second album, “When the flowers were singing …”, which, just like “Tales and Dreams”, was self-released.
“When the flowers were singing …” is a classic post-rock ambient piece that finds itself through a Floyd-esque keyboard backdrop with the very characteristic drumming of the post-rock era, mystical male and female vocals, varied and pleasantly different guitar picking (with the occasional riff), plus unusual extra instruments (cello) that add to the darker mood. Kwoon are also one of the rarer post rock bands to reach for vocals; what’s more, male and female vocals alternate, which is definitely a pleasant surprise. And when both the male and female vocals fit the music, hit the target the music sets for itself and conjure up the atmosphere it’s after, a listener can hardly ask for more.
Sure, Kwoon aren’t reinventing the wheel this time either, and “When the flowers were singing …” isn’t exactly a turning point in today’s music, but the finished product is more than solid and definitely welcome. Above all, the band shows a different approach to music, and they play their biggest trump cards right in the intro, “Overture”. Almost two minutes of seven musicians swaying along carries us off into a totally unique world, where the band holds us all the way to the end of the record, which closes with “Ayron Norya”. You could easily file the album under concept albums, even though at first glance it isn’t one. Not lyrically, certainly, since the vocals, where they actually show up, are there to pour fuel on the fire of the ambient rather than to carry a deeper message. But the playing itself, the music itself, is so strong and so connected across the whole album that it could just as well be a medley or a single track, which wouldn’t be unusual for this genre.
It’s also fascinating how the musicians pulled off this conceptual feel. Because even though the tracks differ a lot stylistically, they form a whole with a head, a tail and everything in between. Among the tracks we even find a sort of recital, like “Frozen Bird”, there’s plenty of “conversation” between the male and female vocals, which again gives the vocals the edge over the instruments, and of course there are also songs with a whiff of pop that are out to reap a bit of commercial success too, as in “Schizophrenic” (which of course doesn’t mean the track is bad). It’s also nice to hear English without too heavy an accent, since I’d never have guessed the band is French (going by the vocals alone).
With their second album, then, Kwoon are sailing along a well-charted course that began in 2006. Despite great support, the band is still without a label, but that will surely change soon, because their music simply can’t be overlooked. They keep post rock afloat, and at the same time their music is just easy to listen to, since there’s no arguing with the atmosphere they create – in this the “Kwoon-ers” are simply masters. I won’t say their music is perfect, but fresh from listening I can only praise the album; I’d struggle to find any criticism, and beyond this point it’s only a matter of taste. So there’s another band on the horizon that will make a big name for itself, a name that will be written alongside all the giants of post rock.
Lineup
Sandy – vocals, guitar
Olivier – guitar
Julien – guitar
Yoann – bass guitar
Ellen – cello
Nelson – keyboards
Cyrille – drums
Production
Sandy Iavallart, Amaury Martel
Tracklist
1. Overture (1:53)
2. Great Escape (5:29)
3. Frozen Bird (6:19)
4. When The Flowers Were Singing… (5:32)
5. Memories Of A Commander (4:10)
6. Schizophrenic (5:41)
7. Back From The Deep (3:23)
8. Labyrinth Of Wrinch (4:54)
9. Ayron Norya (10:29)
10. Untitled (4:48)
