My foray into post rock did not begin with Slint, although you cannot deny the incredibly daring vision laid out in Spiderland. For me, it actually all began with Mogwai, where my musical tastes found their home. Dark. Tense. Moody. Quiet-loud-quiet dynamics. It was really only during the last few years that I started to lean into the other side of post rock that tends to be more melodic and, soaring. Of course, no one does that better than Explosions In The Sky.
It’s probably no coincidence that my favorite EITS album is All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone. Arguably their darkest output – a moodier exploration when compared to the rest of the band’s catalog. I love the sheer minimalism that the band uses to open “What Do You Go Home To?” A single, repeated piano note. That stark and lonely note is soon joined by guitar and the track’s trademark arpeggio swirl on keys.
There is a sad tinge here that doesn’t reflect the band’s typical fare. But by trading in the sweeping crescendos for a languid meandering of instruments, Explosion In The Sky actually creates an emotional catharsis that’s even more powerful. “What Do You Go Home To?” aptly returns back to its home in the end: the single, isolated piano note. The music once again providing all the lyrics and storytelling we need.