Timonium - Until he finds us [Pehr - 2003]Third album for the American trio, an exercise in gazing at its shoes while playing slow, depressive music, building some great atmospheres. The history of Timonium is one of thousands of bands… The three members – Tracy Uba (bass/ vocals), Adam Hervey (Guitar/ voice) and Adam Garcia (drums)- met in high school and formed the band in 1994. Hervey is the man behind Pehr Label. Until he finds us is the last album featuring James Rawson on guitar. I’ve never been much of a fan of slowcore or shoegazer’s music but have found myself listening to more and more pop music lately. As a consequence, maybe unsurprisingly, I got into this album more easily than I would have thought. Well, not everything is perfect… A few of the songs here don’t do much to me. But those who do, they do it with style… For instance, it’s difficult not to let oneself drawn into the quiet but treacherous sea that is Populations, the opening track. I instantly fell for Uba’s voice and only regret that it is not used more on the whole album. In Timonium’s music, you never hear an urge to go from one point to another. It’s rather the sounds of people knowing that they will get where they want to by means of repetition, inducing a very nice dreamlike state. Although their works are very different, this attitude reminds me of Michael Gira’s Angels of Light: persuasion through repetition. Soundwise, you will be reminded of bands such as Codeine (on Sub Pop), Low or Mogwai in their mood building moments. Not only about building up slow, quiet atmospheres, Timonium do have their moments of “agitation”, giving a not unnecessary dynamic to some of the songs. However, you never will get moments of guitar noise frenzy such as those you might find on many post-rock albums. Timonium is not a highly original band; you can’t really say that their music is unique in any ways. But they do have a talent for songwriting and for playing some great music for moments of languishment. Unfortunately it fails to grab my attention on the long run: there are too many weak moments. It is to be feared that Until he find us will not appeal much to people outside the dreampop / shoegazing /slocore world. But be aware that some bits of this album are just too good to be missed… Available in the Benelux through Aim-Distribution    François Monti
| 
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=com
