Thirdimension "Permanent Holiday" CD
[Parasol]
I was psyched as hell when this Swedish act's latest full-length showed up. Having only heard (and thoroughly enjoyed) one song prior to this I was really interested in checking out more. Their bio states the following: "Grounded in sensual neo-psychedelia but evoking much more, Thirdimension translate traditional late-60's British Invasion artists like The Who, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, and The Small Faces, for a not-so-brave new world." Now, I'm not 100% sure what that means, and I usually don't even read bios, but I cite that passage because I can both agree and disagree with the references to late-60's British artists and such. I agree because there's definitely an element of that involved here, as there are some neo-psychedelic types of textures, but I disagree because I personally hate most of that shit, yet I really like this CD a lot. So, while it's not unlikely that fans of the aforementioned artists would appreciate this, it's more likely that many who have no interest in that shit at all (such as myself) would be into this, and I wouldn't want anyone to overlook it due to any sort of blanket miscommunication. Their style is definitely a modernized take on some of that stuff, and I could possibly compare them to a few bigger name contemporary acts like Coldplay and Interpol on some level (or Porcupine Tree from a completely different side of the coin - see "Sore Lips" especially), but again these are only loose reference points. As for what's going on, it's largely laidback rock with a good level of dynamic shifts between the truly somber moments and slightly more energetic and jumpy tempos. All of the band members contribute various instruments, so there's plenty of layering involved. The vocalist and the drummer both add acoustic guitar; the bassist adds acoustic guitar and percussion; the guitarist adds pump-organ, piano, taurus, mandoline, and zither; and all four of 'em contribute backing vocals as well. The bulk of the vocals are calmly sung with tons of vocal harmonies and a few forays into slightly more pronounced lines. "Rear View Mirror" appeared on the "It's a Trap Reader's Companion Volume One" compilation and was my introduction to this band, its resonant piano and percussion backing acoustic guitars and soft vocals still making for one of the finest moments herein. "Save Me" is one of the more peaceful compositions, using piano and distant, basic percussion/basslines with lots of choral vocal layering and abstract ringing textures to create a really lush atmosphere. "Silver Eye" is similar in its dominant use of piano and percussion, but the basslines are far more oppressive in thickness, and there are some strange effects tossed over the percussion and vocals that lend a watery sort of element to everything... very nice. "Last Real People" carries along at a nice midpaced stroll with an odd blend of dark melody with bright vocal harmonies that stands out a lot, while "The Only Healer" features guest female vocals and introduces an amazingly moving chorus that eventually solidifies it as one of the most stunning tracks herein. There are only a select few songs that I'm not too big on, "Mondaymachine", for example, which is slightly more upbeat (though by comparison the also peppier opener "Black and Blue" is quite good). I haven't one complaint with the sound quality, though. Everything sounds completely pristine, with a great level of warm density, a variety of different textures so that every song has its own characteristics, a clear mix, etc. I don't even know what else to say about it other than it sounds excellent. The layout is very clean and consistent with crisp, tightly arranged text, artful and serene photos of empty chairs, and some unexpectedly stark photographs of the band against a solid white background. The images of the band almost create an air of garage rock about them, which is highly inaccurate, but it all still looks strong regardless. Lyrically things are personal yet open, and I actually quiet like the way they're approached. Nothing gets too blunt, so there's no lack of creativity, and there are some excellent lines. "Once we were just like you, with a thousand dreams to fill. Now we couldn't care less, just take a look at this mess. All you held for true were lies meant for you. We're not gonna take it anymore." I have to say, there's no legitimate reason why this band isn't far more "popular" than they are. This material is equally as strong, if not stronger, than a lot of comparable music that's been hitting the streets in the US via major labels in the last few years. I have no real concern for that kind of thing, and I'm not sure these guys do either, but I truly believe that all it would take is one small stroke of luck for Thirdimension to break wide open. This is great work, definitely something worth looking into. (8/10)
Running time - 43:16, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: Rear View Mirror, Last Real People, The Only Healer, Sore Lips]
Parasol Records - http://www.parasol.com

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