Glass Vaults
Into Clear

THE REVIEW

Take Thom Yorke and put him at the counter of a bar. It doesn't matter which bar, but let's pretend it's one of those radical chic ones in downtown Milan. Next to him, make sure Jónsi is there. Both of them as if they've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. A glance of understanding and the pronouncement of the fateful question: "What are we doing tonight?".

If you thought "getting drunk" or "watching a movie," you're off track. But if you thought "writing music," you got it right. And the result is the Glass Vaults. More or less.
Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce are New Zealanders. Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce are the minds behind the Glass Vaults.

The Glass Vaults are the authors of the best EP of this year.

Etheric and celestial ambient music suspended between the physical and the astral plane, with a clear tilt towards the latter. Four tracks that, if you know what I mean, are more over there than here. Occasionally, strangely sweet and lulling drones appear on the scene, rather than anxiety-inducing and nervous as is usual for artists who delve into these compositions. The opening "Golden", with its liquid guitars, may have a post-rock feel, and it's not wrong to think so. In several moments, the points of contact with Sigur Rós are evident (after all, Jónsi was in that bar, wasn't he?), at times they also recall Dead Can Dance, the singing is Radiohead-oriented (and who was the other drinker at the counter?), the result is expressed in songs that penetrate the flesh to go straight to the heart, elevating it to pure spirit transcending this reality.

The final title-track, in stark contrast with the dreamy introduction of "Golden", ends amidst various noise elements, almost metaphorically symbolizing the course of existence.

To summarize what has been written so far, one phrase would suffice: if I ever had to ascend to heaven, which is very unlikely, and had to choose an appropriate soundtrack, I would choose this album.

Without a doubt.