Johnnytwentythree - JXXIII
[Self Released]

Named after a character featured in a short story in William S. Burroughs' "Exterminator", Cincinnati quintet Johnnytwentythree are a band intent on taking cinematic instrumental music to the next level. On face value, their epic, triumphant arrangements hark back to the glory days of post-rock; the shimmering guitars, the bombastic percussion and the orchestral grandeur are all present here.

However, J23 place equal importance on visuals as they do with the actual music, turning their heart-wrenching compositions into a multi-dimensional experience. The award-winning film work of member Stephen Imwalle is a key factor in J23's make-up, with the band often composing around his stunning imagery.

The music on offer here seems to take on a different meaning when synched with the accompanying film on this disc. Take "A Minute's Warning" for example, a track that is notable for its powerful accumulation of controlled guitar distortion.

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This is set to images of slow-motion marching armies and pictures of despair and tyranny. Bristling with post-9/11 tension, such alienation and chaos is augmented by subtle outlines of Reagan and Nixon spliced with thought-provoking messages. The band stop short of including Bush on this film, but if you can't get the message from what is featured, you never will.

Imwalle's work is as powerful as each dynamic burst of percussion or rousing guitar arrangement. Words simply cannot describe the imagery presented on "Red Bird". The best thing to do here is to watch this clip. Turn off your lights, up the volume, toggle full screen mode on Youtube and immerse yourself in the exhilaration of J23's music and imagination.

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That's not to say the band need visuals to perform properly, when they are withdrawn the music remains commanding and exciting, everything an instrumental band should be. The intertwining guitar work, furious militaristic percussion and Brianne Maier's violin combine gracefully to create suspenseful crescendos that peak perceptively, soaring into euphoric highs from contemplative troughs.

The stunning "Fall of Swords" builds from a soundtrack of a distant fairytale into a celebratory ceilidh like stomp, dramatically exploding with spectral violin and massive tunnels of guitar distortion. The whirlwinding sound bent on dragging you into such majestic music. The sort of biblical crescendos featured on the 20-minute long "Ghost Soldiers", meanwhile, have rarely been seen since Godspeed You Black Emperor stopped patrolling the post-rock frontline.

Instrumental music seems to be reaching a new age, much like punk there is a new wave of bands intent on taking this music further. Perhaps Johnnytwentythree are the best of the lot, there is much on offer on "JXXIII" to suggest they have a long and fruitful career ahead of them. Although they may borrow stylistically, in parts, Johnnytwentythree carry it all off with such panache that it shouldn't matter. These grand, sweeping sounds set to apocalyptic imagery must be a joy to witness live. We should all grab a copy of "JXXIII" before it is too late. Judging by the imagery put forward on "A Minute's Warning", there isn't much time.

JXIII Track Listing:

1. Red Bird
2. Ghost Soldiers
3. Last Exit
4. Into The Depths
5. Fall of Swords
6. A Minute's Warning