Math-rock is not dead. Certainly not to Michigan-based duo "Charles the Osprey" at least. They manage to ride the fine line between creativity and accessibility throughout most of their 12 song debut LP. This is possibly the most defining skill for an instrumental band to master, as it allows for appeal to musicians and music fans alike. Are there moments of discordant musical wankage? Of course. This is an instrumental band, after all, but these moments are few and brief (not to mention that the musical wankage holds great appeal with the musician crowd anyway). CtO make sure to balance these moments with enough melodic hooks to draw the attention of your average invested music fan. In fact, the duo's most impressive songwriting tactic is their integration of hooks with technical chaos, allowing the lister to begin to appreciate the technical aspects even if they are put-off at first.
The album's true weakness, in this reviewer's humble opinion, is its lack of diversity. At just over 43 minutes, this album is by no means short. While it has its highs and lows like any album, its 12 tracks seem to meld into one long song as the album progresses. This effect is common with instrumental bands. A truly cohesive instrumental album is one that manages to create a uniqueness to every track and define key moments on the first listen. This, unfortunately, is where Charles the Osprey fall short. This is an easily forgiven drawback to a debut release that otherwise stands as one of the most compelling instrumental releases of the year.
7/10
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