Pell Mell - Endless Open Motion

 

Bio:
Pell Mell were an American instrumental group whose music could be seen on some levels as a forerunner of post-rock, sharing its eclecticism and fusion of acoustics and electronics, but shying away from its more self-conscious avant-gardisms and free-form qualities. Formed in the early 1980s in Portland, Oregon, they developed a distinctive sound built around interlocking guitars, steady rhythms, and an absence of vocals that allowed their compositions to unfold like scenes from an unwritten film. Their work often carried a sense of motion and landscape, suggesting open roads, shifting light, and the passage of time. Not wanting to be pigeonholed as mere revivalists, they switched up their attack with touches of funk, punk, Krautrock, dub, and vintage ambient, among other sources, which resulted in an atmospheric, effects-laden sound that was certainly aided by its creators' production prowess. Across releases culminating in albums like "Interstate", Pell Mell refined a style that was both understated and emotionally resonant, helping to lay groundwork for later instrumental and post-rock acts. Though never widely commercial, they earned a devoted following for their ability to convey atmosphere without words, creating music that feels at once intimate and expansive, perfectly suited to long journeys, both literal and imagined.


I first had the idea of compiling a Pell Mell anthology several years back, finally getting the kick up the backside to go for it thanks to a compilation of instrumentals, "Syncopated Musings From The Nineties", posted on the wonderful  jonderblog blog a few weeks ago featuring 3 tracks by the band. You can find a link to them in my blog list. Much more prolific than me, you'll find loads of highly original and diverse compilations to enjoy. https://jonderblog.blogspot.com/

This isn't an all all-encompassing anthology, there's a few compilaton tracks/b-sides which I don't possess, but this does include tracks from all their studio albums and their debut EP from 1981. The majority of tracks included here come from their final 3 album releases, which I think feature their strongest work. My favourite album by them I'd probably go for their one major label release, "Interstate" from 1995. As usual, origin of each track & year of release is tagged in the music files and noted in the download folder. I hope you all enjoy this latest anthology. Cheers!

 

  1. Spy vs Spy (2:51)
  2. Estacada (5:01)
  3. Ether (4:33)
  4. Flood (6:57)
  5. On Approach (2:56)
  6. Blacktop (3:20)
  7. Conversation (4:15)
  8. All This and More (3:05)
  9. Sky Lobby (3:50)
10. Swoon (1:54)
11. Par Avion (4:10)
12. The Devil Bush (2:15)
13. Vegetable Kingdom (6:26)
14. Upstairs (3:25)
15. Field of Poppies (2:35)
16. Nothing Lies Still Long (4:06)
17. American Eagle (2:20)
18. Red Rhythm (6:02)
19. Cinecitta (5:22)
20. Smoke (4:04)

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