[rating=2.50]
The long drawn and epic introduction to “Last Known Surroundings,” the first song off Take Care… is undoubtedly the highpoint on an album that, despite its predictably frequent moments of euphoria and jubilation, eventually fizzles out with barely a whimper. Is it time for post post-rock already?
The fluid, seamless, and largely structure-less emotional meanderings on the guitar that have come to be associated with Explosion in the Sky, and post-rock in general, are present here in full vigour as well. But after the initial highs of the first track, the album begins a lonely journey towards mediocrity and uninspired soundscapes that fail to evoke the emotions that Explosions in the Sky had become noted for. It has its moments, as with the build up on “Human Qualities”, which starts off with a dreamy melody played on what sounds like hundreds of guitars, before settling into a hectic, but oddly calming, percussive rhythm. The song sums up the album in a nutshell, as it promises, fleetingly, to head in a direction that might add a little conflict to the proceedings, before retreating into the safe territory of several false build-ups, and a final distortion-laced crescendo in the end. “Trembling Hands” kicks off on a lively up-tempo note – rare for this album – but once again, the song doesn’t leave any discernable impact once it finishes.
Take Care… isn’t necessarily a poor album; every single track on the album is solid and respectable, and offers the standard cinematic landscapes and dreamy interludes that Explosions in the Sky is synonymous with – none more so than on “Be Comfortable, Creature” – but it fails to add anything new in terms of songwriting craft, as the tracks flow seamlessly, but also predictably, into a continuous pattern of sweet sounding and melodic ups and downs, before gradually fading out, giving the listener the proverbial penny for his thoughts. But as is always true with this music, there is always the chance that the music will age and grow over time, bringing out elements hard to grasp in the first few listens.
Post-rock bands are not generally the forte of the casual listener, primarily due to the concentration and attention to detail required to appreciate such music. For fans of the band, Take Care… is probably an above-average, and slightly underwhelming effort, not because of its quality, but for its ultimately wasted potential. However, the last song, “Let Me Back In,” ends with a sublime and elaborate outro with mesmerizing interplay between the guitars and the synth, and a laidback drum groove adding an element of suspicion to the peaceful ambience, giving the fans just enough fodder to look forward to their next, and wait for this one to grow.