This Will Destroy You - "Vespertine"

Photo credit: https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2197866096_16.jpg

        I came across this odd release while poking around some news sites and the newsletters I get from various labels. A Post Rock release from Los Angeles, California based band This Will Destroy You offers the listener 58 minutes of some calming ambient music that is reminiscent of Explosions In The Sky and some moments of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Based on my initial research it appeared this was released June 9th, 2020. 

        However, this is not the case. The background behind this album is not your typical story. Vespertine was crafted to function as the score to the identically titled restaurant opened in Culver City, California in 2017, but the release was offered for public consumption this year. The band walks you through what each piece is attempting to accomplish for the restaurant experience on their bandcamp, found here. 

Photo credit: https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/filestore/jpg/Vespertine-LosAngeles-USA-03.jpg

        On face value, it does seem ridiculous, but I started reflecting on the fact that movies are scored, television is scored, etc. Why is it so crazy that a high-end restaurant experience would be scored? Most restaurants have music playing in the background, and I don't think it's too big a step to have custom made music specific to your venue if you can afford it.  

        Musically this is definitely an instrumental Post-Rock album. It has the typical swells and echoing dynamics that create these ambient moments that hang in the air. These moments are quite calming but don't grip my attention. I suppose this is the point of an ambient piece of music, but were I not watching the screen, I couldn't tell you where one track stopped and another started. 

Photo credit: https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14991814_1167806229940994_4781094669867672405_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=2d5d41&_nc_ohc=Wjs52XLMnx4AX-TDy_f&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=6c7d29bed5b8673480ce595fcd293f91&oe=5F0F5D84

        While researching this record I found quite a few highly positive reviews, even one was a 10/10. This is not a 10/10 album for me, but I also don't normally gravitate to this genre, so I don't feel comfortable panning it as a release. From my perspective, it's perfectly okay, and I believe it serves its purpose for the restaurant Vespertine. If you love Explosions In The Sky or previous releases of This Will Destroy You, I highly encourage you to check this out, because I truly believe it would be right in your wheelhouse. 

Buy the album here

Listen to it here