Clean of Core is perhaps the closest spiritual successor to Downy since the latter's split many years ago. The main difference being that while Downy incorporated vocals into much of their work, Clean of Core is strictly instrumental. Yet the same dark and intense post-rock vibe runs in their veins.
While Clean of Core may not have that vocal element, it's obvious that they are no less concerned with forming very melodic songs around their bare-bones instrumentation. They let their songs loop and slowly develop, building in intensity and depth. They also keep things in a more traditional verse/chorus/bridge song structure, as if their singer is simply absent. Yet it certainly doesn't feel like there's anything missing from the equation. The group offers up more than enough evocative material, projecting images of watery landscapes and misty hillsides. In fact much of their debut album Spectacle seems to carry with it thoughts of the sea, with song titles like "Pipe Line," "Navigation and Storm" and "Time Wave."
Unlike other instrumental or post-rock bands who like to thrill their audiences with showy playing and head scratching musical equations, Clean of Core does indeed focus on the core of their work, letting it drive the focus of the song. They spin around it like a star, letting it pull and push them as they travel in looping arcs around it.
"Navigation and Storm"
Official Site
MySpace
Members:
Sunao Takeda - Guitar. Keyboard
Kenta Katou - Bass
Teruhito Takano - Drums
Albums:
Spectacle - 2009
"Pipe Line" (Live)
"Pipe Line" (Live)
