Railcars - Cities vs Submarines

Cities vs. Submarines
by Railcars
Gold Robot Records

7" vinyl record advance (releases mid august)





Aria Jalali has been making music for awhile now. You didn't notice? Too bad, because its good. Produced by Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart, Railcars' "Cities vs. Submarines" is an excellent EP all around. Synths, drum machines, and what sounds to be some pretty effects-laiden guitars drive a cohesive, mystifying, and beautiful soundscape.

1. "There is Ice; It is Blue" - From bass and 8-bit mixed with Aria's distorted vocals, the high pitched guitar and snap hi hat evoke a pleasant cold feeling. All of the guitar wail on this album adds a delicate balance to the synthetic drums.
2. "Saints are Waiting for Me, (Outside My Door)" - What begins as a call and response of drums and guitar gradually sharpens into a frightening electronic experiment coming out of a cave... in a good way.
3. "Concrete Buildings" - Direct and quick, the squals and feedback of the synths are a rise in adrenaline.
4. "Through the Trees Lay Smokestacks" - A quiet track that seems like more than just an interlude, there is plenty of reverb and odd sounds to make this a candidate for a Halloween mix.
5. "Bohemia Is Without a Sea" - The standout track is also the most straightforward, yet retains the edge of the page sounds found elsewhere. I have this on repeat in my car sometimes.

At $5 you really can't beat the quality of this EP. It follows the current of electronic-themed rock that has gained in popularity of late but generates a unique experience. This will probably end up on my turntable for awhile... I hope it will yours also.