Book of Sand

Artist: Tarantula A.D.
Label: Kemado
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 184923000269
EAN: 0184923000269
ASIN: B000BEZPS2

Release Date: 2005-11-08

Book of Sand

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock

| Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

| Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

The Century Trilogy I: Conquest
Who Took Berlin (Part I)
Who Took Berlin (Part II)
Sealake
The Century Trilogy II: Empire
Prelude To The Fall
The Lost Waltz
Riverpond
Palo Borracho
The Century Trilogy III: The Fall

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Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2006-03-30

Book of Sand is epic in scope, with styles ranging from classical to metal and charting a lot of territory in between. The songs are thoughtfully crafted with achingly beautiful violins and cellos, punishing guitars, tinkling glockenspiels, pianos dancing alone in the dark. What is perhaps most amazing to me is that Tarantula A.D. has only three members, each of whom shows a complete mastery of every instrument he plays. The use of vocals is sparse and when present functions more as an instrument. Only one song has lyrics and even they seem to be concealed by the surreal quality of their delivery.

Unlike many albums, which feature a variety of musical styles, but lack coherency, this album works brilliantly as a whole. Several of the songs surprise the listener with dramatic, yet seamless, stylistic shifts contained within the piece. Tarantula A.D. effortlessly takes the listener from prog metal to orchestral strings, from late Beatlesque moodiness to lonely piano waltzes and Spanish guitars. These songs will slam you upside the head and in your delirium send angels to tend your wounds. The overall effect is nothing short of haunting.

I was also very pleased with the way in which the final song, clocking in at over nine minutes, revisits certain motifs from songs preceding it. This strategy very effectively brings an album full circle, creating a feeling of completeness and resolution.

Needless to say, I am very excited about this band, as it has been a long time since I have felt passionately about a new album. I do feel that calling them a "band" is a disservice, as they bring a lot more to the table than most bands, and with a lot fewer members.

I hope my little review will inspire a few people to check out this Tarantula A.D.

Maybe the best description I can come up with for this.......2006-02-10

...is "if Dirty Three and the Melvins decided to collaborate on a studio project, and invited a whole bunch of other musicians -- maybe from the Rachel's and/or Godspeed! You Black Emperor -- to fill out the arrangements." Something like that, but it mostly does sound like those first two bands. Basically, melancholy "modern-classical" chamber music with some grunge-y metal parts thrown in for dynamics and dramatics. Quite good.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

1950 ~ Sidney Bechet

Folkloriko ~ Susie Ibarra

Perfect Machine ~ Herbie Hancock

Special Blend

Too Good for Words ~ Artesians

I Grandi Successi Originali ~ Collage

Biografia Do Fado ~ Various Artists

Bwarouz ~ Danyel Waro

Bestrawberry ~ Mayumi Iiduka

Canzoi d'Amore Italiane, Vol. 2 ~ Various Artists