The Present – World I See
  1. The Present
  2. World I See
  3. LOAF Records
  4. myspace.com/thepresentnewyork

The Present – World I See

One of my current weaknesses as a reviewer is that I have trouble coming up with things to say about an instrumental album. In high school I often wrote lyrics and loved to sing, thinking one day I would be the lead vocalist in some kind of rock band. Those dreams are almost completely gone now, and I fill the void talking about my connection to other peoples’ lyrics and how well they sing. So what do I do when there are no lyrics or vocals to talk about? Well, for many albums, I regret to say it means I BS my way through it and come out unconvinced.

But something has apparently changed, because this is not at all what I am going to do for The Present. No no. Their latest release, “World I See,” is an artfully crafted indie rock that captures and intrigues with music in a way that I previously thought only lyrics could.

Some might say six songs only constitutes an EP, but when “Heavens on Ice,” the first track, is over thirteen minutes long, I have to say something different is going on here. It’s almost impossible to pick out all the instruments used on this song. There’s guitars that remind me of a recent Coldplay bridge, percussion that only feels the need to keep time for the first half of the song, voices that are used like an instrument to create an eerie feeling, strings that make things brighter, and a whole lot of sampling and electronic sounds that make things just plain weird… in a good way, of course.

A piano lead on “Love Melody” mixed with cymbals and electronic whirrs and buzzes makes this track sound like an interlude out of a Bright Eyes or Death Cab for Cutie album, only The Present makes it stand as a solid four minute song, although for the last minute it switches to a plodding thud with looping chirps that make me feel a little crazy when I’m not in the mood for this album, making me switch it out for some good ol’ straightforward folk. However, since I’ve gotten used to what The Present have to offer, this need to change albums hasn’t happened and I’ve been able to enjoy “World I See” from start to finish several times since then.

Amid the bells, xylophones, claps, stomps, snaps, chants, effects pedals, and organs, there is a deep conviction of artistic expression. Emotions are clearly created, pulled, and engaged throughout these forty-seven minutes, and I can’t imagine all the thought and preparation that went into each of these songs. This must be one fantastic band to see live.

Score: 8/10

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