This is the fourth album from US post-rock band If These Trees Could Talk.
The Hidden Hand contains 42 minutes of post-rock soundscapes for the listener to explore. If These Trees Could Talk are able guides, highlighting areas of interest and places to be wary of as these nine expressive tracks unfold.
This is post-rock with a progressive edge. It’s mostly instrumental, but not quite; the song Blurry Creatures has anthemic backing chants. Other than this though, there are no vocals, and the musical instruments say all that there is to say.
The music of If These Trees Could Talk is rich in melody and mood building. The songwriting holds these assets close, deploying them frequently, but carefully, ensuring that they have the effect intended. The record features an Aphex Twin cover of the song Film too.
The music is uplifting and bright, yet carries an emotive heart that allows it to avoid feeling superficial or superfluous. There’s enough shading in the music to allow for engaging atmospheres, and a darker side that balances the overall positivity well. The use of three guitars means that there’s always something to pay attention to, and the overall level of musicianship is high.
In effect, The Hidden Hand comes over as a solid release, able to appeal to lovers of textured, nuanced music. If you’re a post-rock fan, you should spend a bit of time with this.
Recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 