Bell Orchestre @ Tonic, NYC | pics

November 8, 2005

“Muted brass moans and trades fanfare, static crashes, the guitars ring, and slowly it begins to come together. The structure is modest at first, but as sweat pours in, the project’s scope reveals itself. Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light is colossal. The payload of six years’ determination, the debut album from Bell Orchestre (French pronunciation: ‘or-kest’) gives orchestral post-rock the update it has desperately needed since Godspeed You Black Emperor! reached the genre’s creative apex with their classic Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven five years ago.” [Pitchfork]

Bell Orchestre played Tonic in NYC Monday night (November 7, 2005).

I don’t think you can talk about Bell Orchestre without mentioning that they share two members with The Arcade Fire. I think it’s worth comparing the two groups musically too. Add keyboards, vocals, helmets, crazy hooks, and some violence to Bell Orchestre, and you should end up pretty close to The Arcade Fire’s slow songs. It helps that the very dynamic Richard Parry is one of the shared members. Maybe I haven’t listened close enough yet, but the Belle Orchestre album seems like background music. Live they made me want to dance.