Din of Celestial Birds – The Night is for Dreamers
GrindOnTheRoad

The Night is for Dreamers

Din of Celestial Birds

8.0Score / 10
Label
A Cheery Wave Records / A Thousand Arms Music
Year
2023
Published on
GrindOnTheRoad
Read in

Translated from Italian

Din of Celestial Birds are a five-piece from Leeds, in the UK, and they're about to make a grand entrance onto the post-rock scene with their debut album, The Night is for Dreamers. After catching fans' attention with their 2019 EP, titled EP 1, they made a name for themselves with incisive live performances that thrilled audiences at many shows. The Night is for Dreamers will be released on 11 August on A Cheery Wave Records (UK) and A Thousand Arms Music (USA), a week before their appearance at the legendary ArcTanGent Festival.

The album grabs your attention from its first notes, with the pairing of "Utopia" and "Junebug". The band immediately shows a command of blending post-rock elements and hard rock rhythms, creating a distinctive, fascinating sound reminiscent of the eclectic, elusive nature of Maybeshewill. "Utopia" welcomes us with gentle melodies and remarkable guitar energy marked by precise drum hits, between sparkling clean arpeggios and more distorted sections, while "Junebug" drags us into a whirlwind of lively, engaging notes, wrapping us in a soundscape steeped in life, in which every guitar phrase is a vivid memory and every chord a moment to treasure. The muscular, impetuous riffs of the second half merge with tremolos whirling like wild splinters, and this crescendo leads to a heart-pounding conclusion whose intensity favours emotion. "Launch" continues the musical journey with greater delicacy, entrusted to the notes of the three guitars intertwining in a sonic cascade of sparkling textures, balanced between triumphant turns and melancholic suggestions. Towards the middle of the track, a distorted riff bursts in and changes the atmosphere, while the return of the clean guitars lights up the soundscape again with the evocative beauty painted by tremolo notes. A more relaxed, reflective bridge gives us a breather before the impetuous post-rock triumph that follows, amid the classic rivers of delay and reverb from the three guitars. "Laureate of American Lowlife" emerges as a sort of tribute to the intimate writings of Charles Bukowski, with a succession of mighty, engaging riffs. The subtle voice-over accompanies the calmer sections, immersing us in reflective moods, before the distorted guitar takes command. The central part of the track swings between crystalline God Is An Astronaut-like sounds, with those tremolo riffs wrapped in spacious reverb, and more markedly metal traits; this crescendo leads us to a breathtaking conclusion where all the sonic shades intertwine magnificently. Din of Celestial Birds' ability to express emotion through music alone shows fully in this track: the composition develops progressively, growing ever darker and more cerebrally intricate, unfolding a sonic narrative that leaves no one indifferent. "This Transient Spring" rises delicately from the ashes of the previous track; it opens with a sweet piano melody, conveying a deep sense of serenity and inner peace. With the entry of the drums, the track evolves into a more rhythmic, upbeat section, with the piano merging with the percussive elements and the reassuring opening guitar notes. The introduction of an enchanting, rising, more electric guitar riff opens the way for the other tremolo guitars, which add further depth to the soundscape: the passage from the opening calm to the intensity of the finale conveys a feeling of euphoria and momentum towards a brighter outlook. The music here cradles the soul like a spring breeze, carrying a cascade of colourful emotions: if I had to describe what it stirred in me, I'd say it's a bit like stopping to watch the sun's golden reflections dance gently on the still surface of a lake, sinking into the calm and serenity of the first moments and then finding yourself enraptured by the enchantment of a perfect moment, unique and unrepeatable in time, and rejoicing deeply because of it. "Downpour" is another great track, with gentle, typically post-rock riffs and urgent, striking drums. The influence of If These Trees Could Talk clearly emerges, while the engaging guitar riff on the left grabs attention with its infectious adrenaline. This track too stands out for well-crafted dynamics, with intense, engaging moments and subtler, electronic sections in the background. It's a track that conveys a feeling of discovery and adventure, with a touch of majestic epic reminiscent of certain film soundtracks: it's like finding yourself in the middle of a storm, with the guitars firing piercing notes like gusts of wind and the drums roaring unstoppably like the rhythmic crash of thunder. "MMEC" is a deep, intense track dealing with a serious theme like depression, culminating in a liberating final section. The voice-over in the background adds a reflective dimension, leading the listener into an atmosphere of deep contemplation. The circular guitars intertwine in an enveloping way, giving life to a sort of emotional whirlwind in which a deep sense of liberation finds room. The last track, "I Love You But It's Killing Me", is an ode against addiction and mental illness, a delicate theme Din of Celestial Birds handle with great sensitivity. The influence of bands like Mono or Explosions In The Sky emerges strongly, with clean guitars merging with heavier, more dramatic moments. The growth of the sonic shades and the song's emotional progression culminate in a chaotic, explosive conclusion, expressing the inner struggle represented in the title.

Between passages of vibrant instrumental rock and ethereal harmonies, with The Night is for Dreamers the band traces a truly thrilling path through eight tracks that unfold like brushstrokes of colour on an ever-evolving canvas. Inspired by the legends of the genre, Din of Celestial Birds find their own distinctive voice, giving us 45 minutes of great music, between moments of serenity and impetuous grandeur. In a tracklist that favours emotional crescendo, the pieces gradually take on darker, deeper tones, making room for a more intricate, engaging musical narrative, immersed in fresh and delightfully dynamic soundscapes. With such an ambitious and successful debut, the name Din of Celestial Birds is destined to shine ever brighter in the vast musical firmament of post-rock; and if the night is for dreamers, then The Night is for Dreamers is the sonic manifesto of a band that dares to believe in its dream and shapes it with skill and passion.

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