Palms-Palms

Ipecac Recordings
2013

Palms is a post-rock outfit that was formed from the smoldering ashes of post-metal band. In this instance the post-metal band we're talking about is Isis. As it turned out Chino Moreno (famously of the Deftones) was a fan of Isis so, when that band called it a day and shut off the lights, Chris stepped in front of the mic from Palms. With three former members of Isis in tow (Bryant Clifford Meyer-guitars & keyboards, Jeff Caxide-bass & keyboards and Aaron Harris-drums & electronics) and Chino Moreno on the mic this had either the potential to be beautiful or, if the four musicians were not careful, this risked sounding like left-over Isis material as interpenetrated by the Deftone's front-man. Thankfully it easily sails into that first category and, while not a 100% perfect release, this self-titled debut-album is still quite the remarkable achievement. Let's call it like it is and state the obvious. The strong song structures on display here are born from the same creative juices that made Isis so appealing to begin with. There's also no way you could go about denying Moreno's input on this material. In all these four musicians do pull from some very familiar sources, but here, merged between the cold dead of night and the bright warmth that is the California sun, feelings quickly turn to how Palms, perhaps after having locked themselves in a room with nothing to listen to but LP's by Sting, U2, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, The Cure, Pink Floyd and the Smashing Pumpkins' "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness",  etched out softer, more subtle rock! In fact it's this emphasis on a more natural vibe (that also made thoughts turn to later period Cave In) that cuts right to the deep heart of what makes Palms work so well. For you see within these tracks we find four different souls flexing their creative nature while giving the listener music that is more of a suggestive whisper then a metallic thump.There's no escaping the reality that some of what's on display here might be a tad slow-building, but the payoff is well worth it! Slow and steady the band rocks out with this somewhat dense (and yet magically natural and lovingly haunting) thickness lying beneath the surface. Once you get underneath the sheets with Palms debut-album it's one of those cases where you find that's it's hard to ignore the comforting intimacy this group has to offer. Another best of 2012 release in the making? That very well could be the case.