God Is an Astronaut
Far From Refuge

It is probably the most controversial work from the Irish. Their enveloping post-rock, instrumental, sweet, after the subtle evolutions of "All is violent, all is bright" had reached a turning point: either repeat what had already been done or experiment with new musical solutions. The trio didn't want to overdo it and chose to "limit" themselves to reprising what they had already partially presented with the first two albums. But there's a great strength in this album, in their music. Even though they may seem repetitive (and sometimes they really are), their compositions still manage to evolve on their own, creating a sense of peaceful calm that in an instrumental album is one of the fundamental elements. It's not about boredom, but the ability to put listeners at ease, cradled by music that is never too demanding and never too sappy.

The nine tracks are a crescendo of feelings re-proposed in music, through a style that is partly derivative and partly absolutely personal. "Radau" is an alienating opener, with cryptic and at times sci-fi sounds. Perhaps a bit unusual for the band, but positioned right there at the opening, it shows us the more experimental side of the band. On the contrary, the title track is what most characterizes the group: a subdued beginning, slow and delicate guitars, well supported by a never intrusive rhythmic section. A dream carried into music...

God is an astronaut also means transport, emotion. Their way of making music is closely linked to this. "Sunrise in aries" reaffirms it with sweetness and force, just like "New years end", one of their most exhilarating songs, which outlines scenarios of absolute beauty through a gentle guitar. For this reason, many criticize them for being too sappy, not very incisive, but the beauty lies precisely in this, in managing to make you dream with a few strokes of the guitar that generate songs that are not demanding at all.

I continue to let myself be carried away by this group. Probably their offering is not the most original that can be had, not very lively, sometimes a tad boring, but it is tremendously relaxing, dreamy, luminous...

1. "Radau" (5:51)
2. "Far From Refuge" (6:52)
3. "Sunrise In Aries" (4:21)
4. "Grace Descending" (5:30)
5. "New Years End" (4:16)
6. "Darkfall" (3:41)
7. "Tempus Horizon" (5:07)
8. "Lateral Noise" (1:52)
9. "Beyond The Dying Light" (5:34)