Explosions in the Sky
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
(Temporary Residence)

Instrumental bands enjoying mainstream success seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Mogwai is one example, but on this side of the pond, we have Explosions in the Sky. They’ve benefitted from steady use in television shows and films, particularly Friday Night Lights, but the group has the musical chops to prove that they’re worth the indulgence even without lyrics.

The songs on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care are longer than those usually tolerated by the average radio listener, with all but one of the album’s six tracks lasting over seven minutes, but each song is a sprawling work of beauty. They don’t work toward a clattered frenzy or build up a landscape only to tear it down. Instead, Explosions in the Sky add and subtract elements as necessary to form a soundtrack without a film.

There’s nothing that stands out too much on this record, but it’s not a bad thing. For years, the Texas band has been perfecting the art of making lush, atmospheric guitar rock. There’s time for dancing and time for nodding along quietly. It’s a self-contained universe, and the right audience can appreciate the swirling tones and careful distortion properly.