Not everybody likes their chill out music to be abstract and sample driven. For moments when only quiet guitar music will do, reach for UK band July Skies.
‘The Weather Clock’ is an album of gentle, airy guitar instrumentals with a distinctive ambient feel. July Skies build almost minimal repetitive patterns in their playing. Songs like ‘See Britain By Train’ or ‘Distant Showers Sweep Across Norfolk Schools’ sound like slowly evolving live jams.
Ironically, the live approach to recording rather than relying on samples gives this music a ‘cleaner’, less edgy feel. In the worst case scenario, guitar instrumentals of this kind too often sound like the music your dentist might play to spread calm vibes in his or her practice. For most of this album, July Skies steer clear of this trap by displaying an angular quality that might remind the New Wave heads among you of Wire.
Start with ‘Holidays In Wales’ or the two abovementioned tracks, ‘See Britain’ and ‘Distant Showers’. These three are the hits for me on this album. Especially ‘Holidays’ comes across as a slightly more pastoral version of Manuel Goettsching’s ambient classic ‘E2-E4′.
July Skies keep their tracks in general under 5 minutes on the album, which somewhat limits their impact in my opinion. It’s the slow build and the anticipation of the main theme that made ‘E2-E4′ a classic. It would be interesting to see what a 15 minutes version of ‘Holidays’ could sound like.
Check out ‘The Weather Clock’ if you are into well-crafted guitar playing. Also, if you are into the Balearic sound of acts like Studio or if you like the music of Lindstrom then this album is worth a listen.
Please visit the band’s MySpace page to hear other recent tracks by the July Skies.
Thanks to user ‘20tracks’, who recommended the album!
Listen to ‘Dreaming Of Spires’ an older album by July Skies available for download from iTunes.
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