One Second Bridge – One Second Bridge

Forming the backbone of their self-titled LP, these bouts of musical impromptu in no way indicate an album full of wandering compositions or half-baked ideas, with the One Second Bridge ethos verging on the melody-drenched output of classic 4AD or even Morr’s Slowdive tributes. Opening with the self-titled ‘One Second Bridge’, Garcia and Bieniaszewski roam into view through a watercolour backdrop of Basinksi-style decaying soundscapes, before the contrast is drawn to the foreground through chiming acoustic guitars and a heat-haze of effects that leave everything tantalisingly out of reach. From here, the next stop is effects layered post-rock on the appropriately titled ‘No.2’, wherein Mogwai’s ‘Somewhere Nice’ is given a bright-eyed rinse-down and comes out the other side with a genuine spring in it’s step that is both infectious and deeply moving. Elsewhere, ‘Um Minuto’ uses some Satie-inspired piano to poignant effect, ‘Keep On Falling’ manages to reference both Badalamenti and Slowdive without becoming overawed, whilst ‘Alt.Ending’ sees you out on a blush of choral rectitude. A gorgeous album that wears it’s grandness with astonishing ease.

Written, recorded, and produced in Bagdad's Oasis, Barcelona, 2003-2004.

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