:: Beaten By Them - Signs of Life

Beaten By Them

Emanating from a quiet, peaceful place beneath a large willow tree, San Francisco/Melbourne based ambient rock group ‘Beaten By Them’ have released ‘Signs Of Life’, a collection of epic creations the likes of which I have experienced not. Ranging from chaotic and frantic drumbeats, to calm serene melodies, to the eerie splendour of strings manipulated mimicking whales calling to their young, the group use guitar, bass, drum, electronics and cello to evoke emotion and deliver effortlessly a sound so unique, so memorable. ‘A town too small’ is an emotive, moody, slithering snake; it isn’t hard to imagine a movie screen flashing an emotional roller coaster to the sounds of this piece. It is beautiful to listen to, at times effortless, at others focused and dramatic but always maintaining some degree of organization and purpose. It’s clear their goal is to step away from the norm, to push boundaries and create the uncreated. No mean feat but they seem to have mastered the art of taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary, adding an undefinable quality and finishing with a lingering sensation of serenity well after the final song has reached its end. Do not overlook this band, they have a something that is not easily found, and will never be fabricated.