DO MAKE SAY THINK

DO MAKE SAY THINK
WINTER HYMN COUNTRY HYMN SECRET HYMN (2003)
320 KBPS

Do Make Say Think's fourth album is split into thirds. The first is intended to be the culmination of their work writing intricate guitar and instrumental songs over the last 3 albums. In other words, it's most like what they've done in the past, only they think it's their best of that type yet. The middle third is supposed to be the jazz-tinged stuff, and the last third is the more "rock," with more dynamic and even a treated vocal chorus. So, let's approach it similarly. For the most part, each section has two main parts with a shorter connecting interlude between them.
Odd synthesizer sounds, dub rhythms, hypnotic bass noodling and artfully melodic guitars are a common theme throughout the entire album. Where the other 6 tracks on the CD wander off on a tangent or two, these first three are focused on developing and pushing these ideas as far as they'll go. "Fredericia" is a somewhat explosive exploration of a few variations on a simple theme. The short "War on Want" is stripped to just electronics and violins. The violins stab and layer, creating a pulsing sheet of violin squeak. The electronics squeal and eventually detune the violins making them sound sickly. "Auberge Le Mouton Noir" boasts the best guitar work of the album. It's melodic, rhythmically charged, and anthemic all at once. The middle third has the slight touches of jazz, though few are very obvious. "Outer Inner & Secret" has the jazz rhythm section, while the guitars weave around with eliptical phrases, and the synthesizer shimmers just beneath the surface. Before a few fake-outs, the guitars are incinerated in a short fuzz freakout, only to have it all start over again one more time with the intensity doubled and the parts fragmented a bit. Of the interludes, "107 Reasons Why" is the longest (at 3:01). The heavy harmonizing of clarinet and trumpet is a beautiful texture, which leads nicely into the clearest jazz moment of the album. "Ontario Plates" is basically a jazz-rock song. Starting with drums and bass laying down a looping rhythm while horns and strings harmonize a smooth melody over the top before being embellished and taken over by electric guitar and some gusto where it becomes a loud reworking of itself. The explosive shift in volume of "Horns of a Rabbit" is matched by its bizarre textures and excited guitar lines. This is the most energetic moment of the record, and—after a short NNCK-ish clattering interlude—it is soon followed by one of the most serene. "Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!" is a gorgeously simple song building bubbling synthesizer, acoustic guitar, and trumpet into a full band accompaniment for an upbeat and infectious closer.
Do Make Say Think have the unfortunate position of being the second biggest band from the home of Godspeed! You Black Emperor—Constellation Records. While the overall aesthetic of Do Make Say Think has quite a bit in common GY!BE, their music stands apart as sweaty patchworks of rock, improvisation, and dub.

1. Fredericia
2. War On Want
3. Auberge Le Mouton Noir
4. Outer Inner & Secret
5. 107 Reasons Why
6. Ontario Plates
7. Horns Of A Rabbit
8. It's Gonna Rain
9. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

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