APSE - 'Climb Out'

Hailing from Newtown, in Connecticut, APSE have been performing atmospheric post-rock tunes for the best part of ten years now and having released numerous EP’s and singles, they release only their second full length album (third if you include their limited edition enhanced EP, ‘Eras’) on ATP recordings.
Despite not grabbing the listeners attention on it’s first listen, the more plays it gets, the more ‘Climb Up’ grows on you. The first single, titled ‘3.1’ is an instant highlight, which is proceeded by the anthemic ‘Rook’. Another personal favourite is the slightly more eccentric instrumental ‘Tropica’. For me ‘Tropica’ is a track that adds more of an electronic direction from the other soundscapes on ‘Climb Up’. However, for me the strongest track on the LP is ‘Closure’, which is fittingly the final cut on the record. An uplifting end to a somewhat gloomy sounding album that displays a cleaner and straight up Alt-Rock production, but with APSE’s usual layered vocals making sure they stay true to their sound.
Whilst not disputing the promise that ‘Climb Up’ gives, I do feel that inconsistency lets it down. Whilst being a bit two dimensional at times the three or four stand-out tracks make the LP more enjoyable. The vast majority of the tracks on ‘Climb Up’ have the basics of being brilliant but they lack a cutting edge that make this album stand out.

By Freddy Rothman.