For Long Tomorrow
The drums on For Long Tomorrow always have something to say. They follow the guitars, change direction and leave room for small melodies. Yet this toe album offers more than impressive interaction. Acoustic guitars, piano and other colours broaden the sound. The music stays clear enough to follow all that movement without understanding every rhythmic detail separately.
"after image" uses a female vocal melody to give the instruments a different centre. Picked guitar and drums move smoothly around it. The addition succeeds because the voice becomes part of the playing. The band does not have to abandon its way of building a song to accommodate it.
"two moons" finds a quieter space with acoustic guitar and a gentle vibraphone sound. When the drums arrive, the tune gains momentum without losing its calm. "our next movement" takes a busier route. Horns appear early and the drums gradually claim more space. A short interruption makes the band's return more effective. These are different ways of allowing a relatively small idea to grow.
Every addition does not work equally well. Some male vocal passages make less impression than the instrumental playing, and the opening lacks the assurance of the later songs. The album finds its shape most clearly when the musicians give one another more room. The additional sounds then become a real benefit.
The closing "long tomorrow" grows from picked guitar into a full band sound and gives the drums another fine showcase. It suits a record which finds progress in the details. For Long Tomorrow remains melodic and active, with enough quieter moments to make the busy passages mean more.
