Album Review: The Receiving End Of Sirens - 'The Earth Sings MI FA MI'

The Receiving End Of Sirens were destined for big things. Armed with a trio of guitarists/vocalists,

the band built themselves a buzz-worthy reputation off the back of their

un-rivaled live performances, their unorthodox and intriguing approach

to song writing well and truly setting the five piece apart from many

of their contemporaries. But alas, like so many bands before them, they

broke up well before their prime, which makes The Earth Sings MI

FA MI an unexpected swan song of sorts, one that should be added

to your record collection post haste. 

If you’re yet to hear TREOS

then the most apt description I can give you is this… the band play

an atmospheric blend of rock n roll, one that relies more heavily on

mood and layered instrumentation than guitar theatrics and as such,

you’re hit with a wall of sound that requires repeated listens to

fully grasp what’s going on. 

The dramatic build of “Swallow

People Whole” starts things off, the electronic flourishes giving

the song another element in its already dense sound that culminates

in a myriad of different vocal and instrumental parts. Staggered beats

are the order of the day in “Oubliette” however the song’s chorus

still cuts through with a minimum of fuss, while “The Crop And The

Pest” breathes new life into the quiet/loud dynamic that so many other

bands fail to use make the most of. 

If you’ve got a short attention

span then “The Salesman, The Husband, The Lover” probably isn’t

for you. If however you’re capable of giving your undivided attention

to a seven-minute epic then there’s a lot to enjoy about this song,

most notably the ambient sound effects that permeate throughout the

riffs. As the album’s most direct track “Smoke And Mirrors” was

an obvious choice as the first single, but that’s not to say that

its in any way a by the numbers pop number. Utilizing the full force

of TREOS three-pronged guitar attack, the song couples thick

guitar work with soaring melodies, both of which combine to make one

hell of an impressive racket. 

It’s a shame we won’t be hearing

any new music from The Receiving End Of Sirens

as it seems like the band was really hit their collective stride. I’m

looking forward to seeing where their members go from here.

1. Swallow People Whole
2. Oubliette (Disappear)
3. The Crop And The Pest
4. The Salesman, The Husband,

   The Lover

5. Smoke And Mirrors
6. The Realization Of

   The Ear

7. Satur