RSQ WEBZINE ARTICLE TRANSLATION:

THE PLASTIC THIRDS- Anoxia
(2007 The Plastic Thirds)

Acoustic settling with the
demons of the past

Chicago is the city that served us a bunch of surprises in the past – at least regarding the music estetics and alternative sharpened thoughts. Remember Smashing Pumpkins as a major export product. The Plastic Thirds are however a little bit less electrified. In fact they are acoustically wraped in much less decibels of sound. Still they can be marked as a very thoughtful band full of ideas that operates in the musical duet of Jeff Perlstein and Sherri Goldstein and pours the heart ballast of the past three years in unique shape of form. The diabolical plan of evolution and hidden revolution is put to life in alliance with Stephen Marsh and Rachel Moss. The blend of indie rock has been silenced to uncover shades of Radiohead, charismatic singer Björk and the ballast fragments of rithm guitar that has been evident for example in Soul Caughing or the music can be calmly marked also as progressive intence of Rush. And that is the spirit in which The Plastic Thirds gave sweaty birth to their debut album Anoxia.

It’s no exploration of mild water. Add some acoustic visionarity of Bill Cockburn, Dave Matthews or Ani DiFranco and the parabol of whole mind trip is evident. Raw sound is softened with mild female vocals and in the progress of first listening to the album you can easily recall the sequences of Calla, acoustic alternatives from the States that are also more than recommended to listen to. Digital touch of easy beats is deceptive and dreamy and atmospheric blend could easily turn Trent Reznor on. However: what prevails is organic structure that ties the entirety of 11 songs into unobtrusive integrity with very few detours. We could say the album is electro acoustic subversion of alternative genre that serves well with both – rithm and melody. Emotiveness, rithm, mild touch of electronics and progressive touch of prime structures is steel proof imperative and announces the arrival of distant storms. The colors blend and clarity is blurring. The new hybrid blend is born and needs to stand the test of time.

Anoxia reveals new horizons and offers something that can be defined as the cortex of prog-tronica. Songs are forged with carefulness and an intellectual approach but what’s missing is a little bit more freedom and space for breathing and improvisation. Anoxia is claustrophobic and ties the walls constantly more and more in implosion of senses till the grande finale. After which you’ll be forced to re-think if you understood all that’s been given to you. Pop thing has been expanded and exceeded and the band gives you much more than previously expected. And because of that element of sublime it’s worth it to re-enter the kingdom of Chichago’s musical dominion. Opinion: retaindfuly in favour of whats been presented and hoping for continuation – with more electric guitars and a whole arsenal of musical instruments for total mental switch-off!

(EVALUATION: 4.0 / 5)

-RSQ Sandman