Rachel's
The Sea And The Bells
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NATN Recommended
Rachel's
The Sea And The Bells
Quarterstick, 1996
RiYL: Erik Satie, Rodan's Rusty, Kronos Quartet, Bill Frissell |
Rachel's began recording mainly instrumental, orchestral-based pieces in 1991 and released two critically acclaimed albums, including 1995's Music For Egon Schiele, which utilized only piano, viola and cello.
The Sea And The Bells was perhaps the most brilliant, refreshing album to be released in 1996. A whopping 17 musicians and 23 instruments, including contrabass, viola and bass clarinet, have here been drafted to perform and record the gorgeous, sprawling works of Christian Frederickson, Rachel Grimes and Jason Noble, the band's founding members.
"Rhine & Courtesan" begins the album with searing emotion before being interrupted by a bizarre metallic noise. When the music kicks back in, the string section races into a fury that recalls running through the woods during a thunderstorm.
Grimes' mysterious, brooding piano accompaniment is magnificent throughout. "Lloyd's Register," a nearly 10-minute epic, dips and swims during its first half from major to minor key, recalling the style of Erik Satie's late-19th century solo piano work. Half-way through, Grimes switches gears with a stunning interlude before reprising the song's first portion amidst ascending violins.
While the song titles on The Sea And The Bells are as thought provoking as the pieces they describe, to imagine what Rachel's had in mind during the creation of these pieces is mind-boggling. It would seem that the record's concept is that of a ship in the midst of sinking, but as the band's live shows attest (a movie projector plays constantly during performances), music such as this is interpreted differently by each listener.
To wit, "With More Air Than Words" hurls one into a pitch-black tunnel with only howling, hollow blasts of noise as a guide. While "To Rest Near To You" invites the listener to look out of a window during the rain in between eerie church bells and the chilling, repeated line, "I thought / the sea."
Each piece is a study in the sentiments that permeate one's inner voice but are rarely verbalized. The thoughts are at once tragic and comforting: a tearful goodbye or time spent apart ("His Eyes"), the fascination and unpredictability of exploring curious places ("The Sirens") or the tingling warmth of gazing at the one you love (the first two minutes of "Rhine & Courtesan").
Rachel's music transcends the silly, superficial genres that saturate today's rock scene. Listeners should challenge themselves to encounter the same imagery more than once while playing The Sea And The Bells. Emotions long ago forgotten will dutifully line up, waiting their turn to jumpstart your very existence.
JONATHAN COHEN | Jonathan Cohen co-created Nude As The News with his Indiana University mates Troy Carpenter and Ben French. When not traversing the globe for business and pleasure, he holds down the fort as a senior editor for Billboard in New York. Stop him and he just may ask, "what for lunch?"