The October Game

Box of a billion lights with it's familiar style has been executed beautifully. Consisting of bittersweet melodies and enticing, almost tidal, bass lines. It's the master, to the audience's puppet. Reminiscent of the style of Radiohead's Amnesiac but with more of a progressive tempo and less abstraction. I've had this CD for a while and immediately fell in love with it, the music is complex and rife with delicious subtleties and I've personally found it hard to put it into words, so please bear with me.

The Album begins with "The Crawler", a melancholic tune with a good handle on climaxes and the second song "Gatherer's Hands", starts with a stronger bass and flavour. An emphasis on the vocal style here is well founded, due to it's accessibility and velvet style.

We're then led to "No Time For Feelings", the third song on the album. This was an instant favourite for me. Energetic rhythm and drawn out vocals knit well together flattering the essence of the lyrics. An electric riff is accompanied by an indulgent piano helping the song to remain a strong piece throughout.

"Heartlines", can be found on their myspace page and is one I think will be a public favourite. Beautiful acoustic riffs and classic vocals. The song is easily memorable and instantly likeable.

"Satellites", comes after a few sedate tunes, with it's energetic vocals and climatic instrumental. Beginning with a charged atmosphere from loaded bass lines and restrained vocals it then breaks into a thrilling surge of instrument and emotion, leaving the listener with an electric gratification.

"Serpentine", although not as obviously impressive as "Satellites", produces a rock steady rhythm and fluid vocals are incredibly catchy. This is a song which has a greater impact than you first realise and you'll find yourself humming it throughout the day.

"Slowburn" drops you smack bang into someone's depression, slowing the entire experience down. The atmosphere is eventually broken with surging choral sounds which are finally shattered by an electric guitar bringing the song to it's climax. Here is stops to take it back to a gentle hum with considerable less oppression than it's beginning.

"Harvesting Waves" another favourite of mine, consists of heaving bass lines with obvious motion and deep vocals which succeed in tying the song together. It plays well with a casual instrumental, swelling and falling leading the song onto it's final chorus where it manages to avoid a clichéd conclusion.

The final song on the album, stays fairly upbeat and pleasant in tone, with a good standard, but not necessarily a great ending to the album. However we are then with a hidden track. Comprising of beautiful acoustic riffs, effortless vocals and the strain and refrain of the strings makes this a much more fitting end to the album, in my opinion.

www.myspace.com/theoctobergame