AWmusic

Along with the announcement of their release, they also mentioned they would be playing shows with other awesome bands that have been reviewed on our site (Caspian and Yndi Halda) and those that haven’t been (Lymbyc Systym, This Will Destroy You, Moving Mountains, and Joy Wants Eternity). It’s too bad they haven’t crossed north of the Canadian-American border to do some shows yet, but here’s hoping they’ll take notice and think about it.

Memory Streams is crafted quite superiorly, meshing together post-rock and electronic to entice the listener to its ethereal-like backdrop of piano-based melodies, twinkling synths, and guitar hooks. The American Dollar are able to skillfully work the dynamics of this album, as if it is really just a single 50-minute song, rather than a collection of eleven. Memory Streams has consistency, which reinforces the idea of a superb ambience album.

The album starts off with “The Slow Wait (1),” which reminded me a lot of Sigur Ros—I suppose it is in the soft piano melody and lingering synths in the background, which create a very dreamy, airy tone. “The Slow Wait (2)” is a more upbeat continuation of the first track. I seriously dig the percussions on this album; I suppose it is essentially what marks the album as electronic (although I wouldn’t go so far as to label the album as electronic—it definitely incorporates a lot of electronic features, but in its entirety I don’t really feel that vibe). The album onward is pretty much very consistent in overall tone/approach, so I won’t get into too much detail about each track.

I like how the titles in this album are so appropriate; “Anything You Synthesize” uses, well, synthesizers, as a theme of focus; “Starscapes” features a disposition of twinkling synths to cast an image of heavenly tranquility.

Like a regular post-rock album, there is lots of repetitiveness in this album. And since I like post-rock a lot, of course I don’t mind this. Some may find it tedious after awhile, but I think that’s how ambient music is best conveyed…it taps into many different levels of the mind, rather than solely focusing on one aspect of music. In it being repetitive, it helps create more consistent, structured imagery.

So if you’re looking for something to mellow out to whilst being very easy to listen to, A Memory Stream is the way to go with its very alluring dreamy soundscapes. I don’t know how else to explain its greatness, so feel free to have a listen to the mp3s below.

MP3s:
The American Dollar – The Slow Wait (2)

The American Dollar – Lights Dim

Please visit The American Dollar’s official website (new window will open) to purchase a copy of A Memory Stream.

Tags: album