Fixed Rope was the first
Express Rising album to be recorded by the trio lineup of
Kevin Blagg,
William Suran, and leader
Dante Carfagna, who initially used the moniker for his solo recordings. On the sequel to
Fixed Rope, the trio continues to construct sparse, hazy aural landscapes with soft, airy guitars and slowly thumping drum machines, with other instruments such as violin, piano, and banjo making appearances. The album seems more distant and minimalist than its predecessor, but these instrumental miniatures still seem like carefully considered compositions rather than hollow sketches. Considering how detached and vaporous the songs feel, they often feature a surprisingly heavy amount of bass, as well as the haunting rattle of trap-inspired drum machines. Even though it's not drastically different than the first volume, somehow
Fixed Rope 2 seems to evoke summer nights spent in the desert or woods, as opposed to the wintry atmosphere of the previous album, although it could easily soundtrack a variety of seasons and locales. The gentle melodies and hushed drums of songs like "Area Man" express longing and uncertainty, and while there is a sense of vagueness to the music, it's too focused to drift away. "Mansion" is the centerpiece, beginning with delicate acoustic guitars and slowly accumulating a gentle cascade of banjo, piano, and the soft heartbeat of a kick drum. "Unfamiliar Lights" adds the skittering snap of a drum machine to frail, melancholy guitars and wistful violins, and it never seems like the electronic and organic elements are clashing in any way.
Fixed Rope 2 is yet another brilliant effort from
Express Rising, taking the project's sound further into ambient territory while remaining grounded in personal emotions. ~ Paul Simpson
![[Untitled]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0190296883675_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "[Untitled]")
![American Football [LP1]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0644110002525_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "American Football [LP1]")
![American Football [Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0644110027627_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "American Football [Deluxe Edition]")
![Sunbather [10th Anniversary Edition] [Remixed & Remastered]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0791689665764_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Sunbather [10th Anniversary Edition] [Remixed & Remastered]")
