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*1/2 Analogue

ROCK PROPER

(Rubric Recordings/Op Pop Pop)

The past decade has seen a spate of instrumental indie acts, including Tortoise, Gastr del Sol, and God Speed You Black Emperor!, expand the boundaries of conventional rock through their eclectic appropriation of alternate songforms and styles, notably improvisation and dub. Yet at times these acts have evoked the hoary specter of progressive rock through their conspicuous use of elongated song cycles, convoluted time signatures, and faux jazz refrains. Sometimes it’s seemed that the only thing separating contemporary post-rock from the prog-rock of the past has been the absence of medieval lyrics.

Analogue, however, are one post-rocky out t who cross over to the dark side too often for comfort. The tightly coiled tracks on Rock Proper, the group’s spirited debut, feel as if they’d been penned with protractor in hand, even when the warm, cheesy tone of what sounds like Far sa organ occasionally intrudes to bring out ’60s garage-rock undertones. The hyperactive bass, glockenspiel percussion, and kindergarten synth lines bring to mind Rush ltered through emo-core-style zealotry. So instead of the adventurous edge that animates post-rock’s best releases, Analogue infuse their instrumental compositions with little more than dry displays of technique that for the most part bleed Rock Proper of anything resembling joy, humor, or surprise.

— Patrick Bryant