Summer Fades Away - Time Flies And Memory's Cruel download free

Most Chinese bands tagged with the ‘post-rock’ label sway to the ‘quiet-loud-quiet’ formula, which, honestly, can be quite annoying when they all sound like Mogwai. In their debut release, Changsha-based quintet Summer Fades Away do little to break the pattern, but carefully venture into new territories in this three-track EP of instrumental guitar ambience. Opener ‘Thanks’ starts out with subtle and melodic plucking until, as usual, the percussion kicks in to support the gradually amplified guitar, conspiring to steadily reach ever stormier climaxes. Track two, ‘Forgiveness’, is a dreamy piano piece in sync with raindrops, as if you were sitting in a hotel lobby in the early ’90s. Final track ‘A Pavilion’ hits listeners’ ears with a more powerful eruption, yet sadly the drumbeats fail to keep up, making the 15-minute symphony sound a bit chaotic. Still, a very promising beginning. (Written by Wang Ge from Timeout Beijing,Oct.14,2011)