MAUDLIN OF THE WELL

MAUDLIN OF THE WELL
LEAVING YOUR BODY MAP (2001)
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The companion album of Bath, Leaving Your Body Map is the culmination of maudlin of the Well's avant-garde mix of multiple styles in a metal framework that was started on my Fruit Psychobells... a Seed Combustible (which itself was the culmination of years of work), and in itself attains a near musical perfection. In my review of Bath, the companion album of Leaving Your Body Map, I said that listening to it takes me to a place that leaves me completely immersed in the music, and the same applies here. However, this time there is no unfortunate inclusions of old materiel that wasn't re-recorded to break the flow and the result is perfection. Musically the album has many moments that just blows me away, whether its the incredible bass melody/rhythm of Gleam in Ranks, any of the highly impressive guitar solos, the ominous use of wind instruments (wood and brass) or the sheer beauty of the acoustic parts, its a ride from start to finish. If there's one complaint that I can think of (and I'm getting pedantic here) its that Maria-Stella Fountoulakis is slightly under-used on this album, but I'll let it pass as there is only a small number of parts that she could have been in that she wasn't. A highly diverse, mature album that demonstrates impressive compositional skills dedicated to creating a mood, this is one of the greatest albums I have ever heard, an absolute must.

1. Stones of October Sobbing
2. Gleam In Ranks
3. Bizarre Flowers / A Violent Mist
4. (Interlude 3)
5. A Curve That To An Angle Turn'd
6. Sleep is a Curse
7. Riseth He, The Numberless 1
8. Riseth He, The Numberless 2
9. (Interlude 4)
10. Monstrously Low Tide