The first three tracks on Chasing the Form, the band's third full length (their second for Exile on Mainstream), show Ostinato and guest musicians Michaux Hood, Anna Matijasic and Cathy Monnes (strings), and Paul Watson (cornet) at their best, creating mildly hypnotic, often heavy layers and textures. There are some pleasant echoing effects and beautiful melodies, particularly the very fluid ones in "Antiaircraft," whose guitars and bass are reminiscent of music from the cult tv series Twin Peaks. Only Ramirez's delicate, creepy vocals, which fortunately make relatively few intrusions on the album, mar these songs. Afterwards, the music becomes less adventurous and full, the layers thinner, the effects fewer. Ostinato's penchant for simple chords and notes is more noticeable in this part of the album, as is the boredom resulting from their repetition. Hennessy's guitar technique, too, can be simplistic: on "Volant," for instance, his playing and the progressions themselves sound like something from 70's soft rockers Bread. A better source, Eno, is referenced (quite extensively) on the final track (unlisted on the promo copy) and more briefly in some of the background parts of "Goal Of All Believers." There is, in fact, little on Chasing the Form that sounds significantly fresh or likely to appeal to any but the most undemanding of introspective listeners.

written by Maud

Playing time: 45.58