On a Spiral is the second album from Align in Time, and the first since 2011’s Me & My Arrow. Align in Time is the musical alias of John Boles, who is based in Providence, Rhode Island.
When I first listened to the album, there seemed to be a familiarity in the sound, and I mean that in the most positive way. It is a blend of John’s musical influences, most of which are a big part of my musical foundation too: post-rock, post-hardcore, pop rock/emo, and film scores. The album was also mastered by Mike Kalajian, who is credited on The Dear Hunter’s Act V…, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra’s Broken Lines, and Moving Mountains’ Pneuma. When all these pieces are added together, the results are stellar.
On a Spiral is not a wall of sound crescendo core post-rock, and not some virtuoso guitar wankery, both of which are all too commonly found when seeking instrumental rock music. Instead, it falls between the two as it has a strong rhythm section that provides a backdrop to the occasional tasty and digestible guitar leads that are sprinkled throughout. These leads never feel forced, and the same can be said about the drumming too. There is nothing over-the-top going on, but it certainly commands your attention. No matter the instrument, everything on this album seems to have its place and was done just right.
This balancing act of simplicity versus complexity does well to create an optimistic, yet honest atmosphere. There is an overarching melancholic, almost Midwest Emo kind of vibe that gets broken up from time to time with inspiring, uplifting moments. This helps On a Spiral come across as more of a story and is sure to keep your attention as John is not just going through the motions of instrumental music here.
If you are looking for post-rock that does not religiously follow the tropes of the genre, or an engaging instrumental album that is more than just something you put on in the background, On a Spiral is for you. Check it out on Bandcamp here!
Favourite Tracks: Absorb, Headlong, Finish It, I Go Too
Genres: #PostRock, #AlternativeRock
Release Date: June 19, 2020