Explosions In The Sky - How Strange, Innocence
[Temporary Residence]

Reissued due to it's initial painstakingly limited quantities, Temporary Residence have given the debut album from space-post-rockers Explosions In The Sky, it's first fully available release.

How Strange, Innocence was recorded over a heavy two day recording session in 2000 and was released as a CDR run of 300 copies. Since the band's rising success and ever-increasing popularity, original copies have currently been trading hands for around $200, while a second issue of the album (pressed on vinyl and sold at early live shows) has reached extortinate levels of $500.

Unlike it's follow up albums, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place and the awkwardly long titled, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever, this long-player for the most part sees a more rawer version of the band's studio output. How Strange, Innocence is a little frayed around the edges and in some instances reflects the rougher performance of their live sets. There's also a noticeable lack of "epic" songs in comparison to newer material, but this isn't to say the LP lacks impact.

Magic Hours and Time Stops could be anything off the inspirational Mogwai album Young Team, which has become a post rock classic. The latter tune in particular, is a sprawling 10 minute song that frequently bursts into a crescendo of headfuck feedback and heavy distortion noise. Both closer Remember Me As A Time Of Day and Look In The Air are the quieter, calmer side of the band; similar in parts to Tortoise, Remember Me As A Time Of Day is probably the strongest track on the album.

Elsewhere, sections such as the sketchy Glittering Blackness are clumsy and lack any direction - something they have developed and moved away from brilliantly. How Strange, Innocence somehow doesn't stand up to the grand emotions their recent music creates. By all means this is not a bad album, it just sounds weaker when compared to their more polished current state.

Perhaps if this album had raised more attention on it's initial release, it would have seemed the perfect introduction for the band. For now it is an excellent addition to any fan's collection, or for those who wanted to hear the group's barely documented beginnings.