It’s been three and a half years since Vasudeva released their debut record and they certainly haven’t used those intervening years in vain. ‘Life In Cycles’ introduced the band as an upbeat, vibrant, instrumental act but for all its energy it became a little one dimensional. ‘No Clearance’ shows what a difference a few years can make; deeply layered, complex but with an awe inspiring beauty, this record is a defining moment for the band that proves they have the ability to handle multiple aspects of instrumental post-rock into one cohesive package.
For fans of ‘Life in Cycles’ it may take time for ‘No Clearance’ to take hold; the previous record was full of bouncy, guitar tapping riffs and vibrant rhythms and though these elements are still present, they’re woven into progressive songs that ebb and flow rather than maintaining a consistent, vibrant theme. First track proper ‘Take Away’ seems innocuous and meandering on first listen as it trundles along without much fuss, however on closer inspection, the chords and lead lines are beautifully intricate, highlighting rich layers waiting to be explored beneath the surface.
‘Doner’ is probably the most experimental track the band has produced to date, the clever tempo changes and electronic effects showing a tasteful amount of outside-the-box thinking to progress their sound. ‘Turnstile’ is the record’s crowning glory: a vibrant, wonderfully layered journey through all of Vasudeva’s instrumental arsenal. Despite no presence of vocals, the pulsating drums and lilting guitars have lyrical qualities that plant hooks in your brain that you’ll be humming for days.
The catalyst for the album’s remarkable procession of emotion is drummer Derek Broomhead. You won’t hear any flashy fills or moments of individual boasting, in fact you might not notice much of what he does at all. Though the drums seem subtle and unimposing, the nuances of Broomhead’s rhythms have the ability to change whole songs on a knifepoint. Broomhead understands his instrument entirely and knows how it impacts the mood and emotion of a piece of music and whether it’s a switch in tempo, a sudden off-beat pattern or the clever use of open hi-hats, the drums are a key component of the success of this record.
‘Life in Cycles’ was dominated by impressive guitar playing and while it might seem more underwhelming and less technical on first listen here, it’s impossible to not appreciate the perfectly selected chords that lift each passage of music and it’s this craftsmanship that makes ‘No Clearance’ such a special record. Flashy guitar playing may be impressive for five minutes, but the maturity of practising restraint for the benefit of the overall composition, has resulted in something that will remain impressive for five decades.
Towards the latter stages of the record, ‘CSPAN’ and ‘6&5’ inject more upbeat flavours into mix, ensuring a spirited, rousing conclusion. The album’s pace, which feels laboured in the early stages during the first few listens, could’ve been helped by having a more even distribution of these upbeat tracks, however once you become familiar with the record, the beauty lurking within is enough of a distraction to stop this being an issue.
Once you allow ‘No Clearance’ to take hold of you, it’s impossible to let that embrace go. With so many layers and textures, it’s like a treasure hunt of melody that you can easily get lost in. Vasudeva have created a remarkable record that shows a true understanding of melody, harmony and restraint and puts them in the highest echelon of their genre.
MARK JOHNSON