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Vehicle | Slow Down! You Are A Vehicle

De belofte: Vehicle uit Roermond.
DEMO, Eigen Beheer

Tekst: Sven Schlijper

Publicatiedatum: 06 januari 2003

(Misschien weet je het niet, maar KindaMuzik was in een recent verleden nog Engelstalig. Een paar dagen geleden eigenlijk nog. Op het laatst werden nog flink wat Engelstalige reviews (sorry, recensies) online gezet. Maar er is er nog één die we jullie niet willen onthouden. We hebben geen albumcover van deze demo en ook geen URL maar wel de belofte: Vehicle uit Roermond. Dat lees je hieronder, nog eenmaal in het Engels, voor de nostalgie zullen we maar zeggen. Dus pak je woordenboek er bij en onthoud vooral ook die naam: Vehicle – NP)

'Revelation' and 'Ascension,' two of the tracks off Vehicle's first CDR demo. They are the first recordings for a selected public by this Roermond, Holland-based threesome in their new guise. Formerly grounded in alternative rock of the Smashing Pumpkins, Vehicle reaches extraordinary heights on this document from their rehearsal space. Amidst nu-metal town's (Roermond) power riffs and arrogance, Vehicle reveals a new way, a new route.

On this seven track sampler, moods range from very intimate-in-the-bedroom-style demo on acoustic guitar ('Mad World," the bonus track), sending shivers down your spine in honest purity, to post-rock-tinged epic pieces, and some hints to emo eruptions. >From track one, entitled 'Silence For the Both of Us' (opening with a sample from Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs movie, so I guess), the vibe breathes serenity and melodic beauty in a stunning amalgam, where the whole is far more than its parts. Think post-rock courtesy of Mogwai or Do Make Say Think, add a throbbing, pulsating bassline, combined with guitar effects that could easily fit into an instrumental Pumpkins jam, a little Sigur Rós chill, and even some Scottish feel of the Arab Strap guitar. And what do you get? A cocktail of the most sincere and direct sort, a dagger right through your jaded heart. Powered by a hammering bass riff, 'Revelation' rocks like Sparta emo with swing and attitude, before things really pick up on this disc.

'Breathe Slowly' (as an extra bonus, a loud, rocking, early live version is included — superb version, that is!) takes off with strange guitar sounds, lulling me into panoramic slumber, when layer upon layer the plot thickens before a wall of sound is unleashed. Far more melodic than noise terrorists group Mogwai, Vehicle drifts off into a power jam, then suddenly ending . . .

The trilogy's (at least this is how I immediately saw this conjunction of songs) middle part is made up of 'El Amor Brujo,' a gem of true brilliance and stellar allure. Especially after the break midway through it's dynamic frenzy, with pull and shove tensions between a rocking, all-out jam and hushed clean and simple lines. This paves the way exquisitely for the closing 13 minutes dubbed 'Ascension.' What can I say? Hear this and die happy? 'Porcelina' of the Smashing Pumpkins meets guitar sounds by the Edge of U2, with rhythm and flow of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. A fragile balance of life on the edge of a knife and a few small shoulders to bear this burden. But with Vehicle, it's not the standard Constellation Records gloom, doom, and misanthropy. Vehicle brings much joy to every little downside of life I know of. 'Ascension' is a soul- and mind-cleansing epic of hope and redemption.

It will be difficult for most everyone to get a hold of these tracks, but this act deserves more than private enjoyment and praise of Yours Truly. They will play live in the near future and are aiming to record a proper full length, shortly. All I can say now is that this recording grabbed my hand and will guide me through and beyond the dark days of wintertime, and has managed to creep into my Top 5 list of this year's best, already. Vehicle has a long way to travel, but the road is perfect, and I'm all too ready to take a ride. And will die happy.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/vehicle/slow-down-you-are-a-vehicle/2232/
Meer Vehicle op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/vehicle