(((O))) : Coastlands – To Be Found

Post-rock is known to be a genre centered on breadth of interpretation. Bands in this genre love ambiguity, whether it be their ambiguous song titles, album titles, or even album artwork. However, bands have also presented a more directed approach to post-rock, leaving the ambiguity behind. The music is cinematic in the sense that it focuses on one theme or one emotion, much like the composition of original scores for film. This sub-genre of post-rock has brought in many bands and fans alike, and Coastlands comprise of both.

The Oregon-based quartet have made quite an impact on the post-rock scene, whether it be in their local community or the global outreach of the internet. In their neck of the woods, they have the opportunity to share the stage with This Patch of Sky, Ranges, and Compass & Knife, and together they all strive for a greater post-rock presence in the United States. Now, Coastlands are ready to release their most recent album, titled To Be Found, on August 12th.

What first struck me about To Be Found was how active the instruments were throughout the album. At first it sounds trivial to say, given it’s an instrumental album, but when the first sign of drums begin in “A World Not Yet Darkened”, they carry a wealth of momentum that never lets up until the album ends. Even in the delicate, airy melodies of guitars, the drums trudge along, one intricate pattern after the next.

Given the song titles “Ghost of Neskowin” and “Western Skies”, a prominent theme of this album lies in the landscape they live in. “Ghost of Neskowin” refers to the Neskowin Ghost Forest off the coast of Oregon, where the shallow waters are layered in tree stumps. This beautiful and tragic sight is highlighted by the eerie backdrop of the song, while “Western Skies” feels like a praise to the beauty of the sky they see every day and night. Nature is a big part of this band and album alike, and its importance is heightened by the artwork itself.

Speaking of the album cover, the fact that the artwork was a painted picture is yet another testament to what Coastlands aims to achieve with their music. The goal of many instrumental bands is to paint a picture in the listener’s head, and they succeeded on all fronts on To Be Found. I can feel the desert heat on “Long Drive Through the Desert”, I can taste the salt water on “Seafarer and the Squall”, and I can imagine myself in the world the music creates for me, which is a truly unique experience with each song on the album.

My only complaint with the album is that it follows simpler song structures, but when the instrumentation is perfectly executed, it’s near impossible to bear mind to it. To Be Found, in my mind, is a dedication to what the band cares the most about: their friends and family, the environment they’re from, and the ocean. This album is a summation of everything the band values significantly, and through the music they give us insight into their world and what they hold close. This one-of-a-kind connection can only be made when music influences you in a profound way, which is the very thing To Be Found did.