Matt Lloyd- 6/2001 - Low Level Owl: Volume 1

Track Listing
1.THE WAKING OF PERTELOTTE (INSTRUMENTAL)
2.ON REFLECTION
3.BLIND MANS ARROW
4.FLOWERS FALLING FROM DYING HANDS (INSTRUMENTAL)
5.MESSENGER (INSTRUMENTAL)
6.DOORS LEADING TO QUESTIONS (INSTRUMENTAL)
7.STEPS AND NUMBERS
8.SENTENCE
9.BIRD OF PARADISE (INSTRUMENTAL)
10.MILE MARKER
11.CONVICT
12.A TREE FOR TRIALS
13.SIGNAL
14.VIEW OF A BURNING CITY (INSTRUMENTAL)
I Was lucky enough to see The Appleseed Cast on their European Tour at The Victoria Inn, Derby. I managed to pick up this album really cheap, and actually bought it from Aaron himself.
The album starts with a slow instrumental 'THE WAKING OF PERTELOTTE'  from just Crisci and Aaron. Its a short track at just over 2 minutes that comprises just the acoustic and electric guitar and a xylophone. This leads nicely into the next song 'ON REFLECTION'. This is unmistakeable Appleseed. Starts slowly and builds up tempo with great lyrics. The full band play here but Ed Rose, the bands 'fifth member' introduces a new sound in electro strings. The album notes also reveal that the band used panned delay on snare drum during the middle section. The drums during this song are really strong, kind of a military beat. The song lasts a good 6:25. This is one of the albums strongest tracks.
'BLIND MANS ARROW' is a powerful track that reminds of 'Mare Vitalis'. Ed Rose plays the organ and rhodes which give it more colour and fill. It is interesting how none of the band plays the keyboard but almost every song uses them. The track also doubles the electric with the acoustic, something which the Appleseed hadn't done previously but pull off amazingly well. Without really noticing the song leads into the instrumental 'FLOWERS FALLING FROM DYING HANDS', a short piece from Crisci and Aaron. Crisci also plays the piano here which gives it a haunting feel, and the use of guitar loopfills in the backing.
Next is 'MESSENGER' a track that was originally a throw-away, the album notes that only Crisci plays the rhodes, a very short piece that acts a break. Crisci and Cobra combine on 'DOORS LEAD TO QUESTIONS' with the added instruments of the organ and piano. The drums used here were sampled and recorded backwards, slowing down to lead into my favourite track on the album, 'STEPS AND NUMBERS'.
A really deep and meaningful song, 'STEPS....' delivers what we kind of expected. Anyone expecting a album similar to Mare Vitalis, may be surprised on first hearing, but the band have clearly evolved and moved forward with the introduction of new instruments and sounds. This doesn't hinder the effect of the album in any way however, for me it makes it stronger. The experimentation that the band used makes it something a little different.
'SENTENCE' is a beautiful track, Crisci sings around a guitar riff while Ed Rose fills with bass. 'BIRD OF PARADISE' is a instrumental with Cobra playing the rhodes making a repetitive melody.
'MILE MARKER' comes in  a bit more uplifting and catchy from the rest of the album, probably due to the use of tambourine and melodic riffs, coming to a blistering end.
'CONVICT' again explores the use of rhodes and piano to produce a track that slows the tempo down. Probably a weaker track on the album, a noticeable lack of instruments and slightly to long to hold the attention it could of got. 'A TREE FOR TRIALS' is a short acoustic track from Aaron, filled with the organ from Crisci.
'SIGNAL' comes as a slight relief as the whole band again conjures up a track to which we would normally associate the Appleseed with. A great song that is both uplifting and emotive at the same time.
The album ends with 'VIEW OF A BURNING CITY' a strong and atmospheric track that serves as a fitting end. The full band play without lyrics steadily becoming more intense before stopping after around 8 minutes.
This short review was written before the album was available in the shops and is intended only as a way of summarising the tracks briefly and sparingly. Each track has it's own individuality and these words are based entirely on my own personal judgement. It is a must for any Appleseed fan, or any fan of this style of music, but is a change from the norm from previous albums. If i were to award the album it would get 9/10, maybe a biased opinion from an ardent fan. I hope you enjoy the album as much as i have.