It may have been six years since the debut release from Manchester collective Pijn but every day it took is very much worth it when listening to From Low Beams Of Hope. Whilst Floodlit and Loss came from a direct place in reacting to grief, From Low Beams Of Hope feels like a more reflective album with continued shades of darkness but also light pointing towards optimism. The four long form songs here are beautifully composed and magnificently executed. This is one of the finest examples of organic and original heavy post-rock I have heard in quite some time.
There was a good bit of delay in this album coming out as a rotation of new members were given time to take ownership of the music and re-record the parts vacated by predecessors. Added into the mix was studio flooding, setting up a new music label, DIY pressing and printing of the release and busy ‘day’ jobs which also consumed much of the last couple of years. What is clear from the off is these four songs, which devour 45 minutes, were meticulously planned and executed exquisitely with the shift in mindset towards hope really shining through. The tracks swell up collectively and never throw away into a cheap crescendo but ride the high wave back into shore whilst still providing an emotive release. ‘Our Endless Hours’ builds around a wonderful rhythmic beat which is ever present as the drums, violin and guitar layer over until dropping into a liberating flood of exhilaration.
The way the band members journey around each other with such ease reminds me of early The Pirate Ship Quintet or Ana Never as the violin and guitars can head off on different paths whilst going the same direction. On the whole the album hints towards a greater melancholic feel yet there remains a juxtaposition of emotions and release that really unite the four tracks and each tells a different story without casting a glum shadow over the listener. Album closer ‘A Thousand Tired Lives’ is the perfect summarisation of where Pijn are and where they came from as it produces that classic Joe Clayton chop of a riff that breaches into post-metal and causes necks to convulse in time.
As well containing amazing examples of song writing, composition and playing the recording is absolutely beautiful. It does help when one of the finest in the game is also in the band. The recording and mixing work by Joe Clayton is flawless and with the final mastering being handled by the legendary Magnus Lindberg you are guaranteed a beautiful result. Joe also set up a label to release From Low Beams Of Hope and combined with the talents of Hull screen printer Fraser Briggs (Misc Print Co) there is a physical release which is equal to the sonic output. From Low Beams Of Hope is weighty in a blisteringly positive sense, it is dense yet positive and it will be miraculous if another post-rock release can better it this year.
