“Jettison” by And So I Watch You From Afar: Album Review

How the actual shit is it going my fellow victims of Merika’s coming apart? Have you had three existential crises just this week to?

Either way, I implore you to keep reading! Because like, have some fucking respect KAREN! This is Irish post/math rock band And So I Watch You From Afar we’re talking about. My expectations for this band are always sky high and every musician I’ve talked about them to holds them in similar esteem. Thus far in their career these creative geniuses have not failed to impress and astonish at every turn. Theoretically, dynamically, instrumentally, vibe wise and beyond they are always taking risks and trying new things. In the math rock world I’d straight up consider them one of the best. So yeah bitch! Don’t fuck with the luck of the Irish. Grateful and proud to be able to present to you my review of “Jettison,” the 5th Studio album by And So I Watch You From Afar, released February 18th, 2022.

1. How did you discover And So I Watch You From Afar?

There was a time, shortly after I graduated high school and began the descent into perpetual chaos, where Discover Weekly on Spotify was the truest homie ever. One of the first times I looked at it, there it was. The iconic and fun “Big Thinks Do Remarkable,” from the band’s 2013 album “All Hail Bright Futures.” I was instantly hooked as this when I was just barely getting into this whole vein of music driven by really technical and polyrhythmic/ever-changing instrumentals that feel more like a well fucking calculated and creative journey than anything else. It’s always been so interesting to me, it’s not like any other music out there. I’m so grateful I found this band when I did. I truly would not be the guitarist I am today without that experience. They are a HUGE influence to the way I write.

2. How good are the lyrics??

Now, usually for a band that hardly has any vocals I wouldn’t even include this question. But this album has very beautiful lyrics although it hardly has any. Two spoken word pieces are present on “Jettison.” They are performed by Oregon musician Emma Ruth Rundle, formerly of the amazing bands Red Sparrowes, The Nocturnes, and Marriages, and Virginia musician Neil Fallon of the band Clutch who I’ve not previously heard of. But both of these individuals do amazing at expressing these elegant collections of words. I especially love Neil Fallon’s poetry voice, it’s deep and soothing. I wouldn’t mind seeing more stuff like this in And So I Watch You From Afar’s music.

3. How good are the instrumentals???

If you know And So I Watch You From Afar, you know the instrumental is 98% of the whole thing here. Due to the expectations that their past releases have set, I can’t help but be disappointed by some moments here. I consider this band incredibly creative. I don’t consider any song on “Jettison,” to be even bad but there could be MORE to a lot of these moments and this band is capable of doing it. On the other hand, this new album is where we see And So I Watch You From Afar straying farthest from their roots, and honestly the way it builds up and breaks down and ebbs and flows through the entirety of the whole thing is impeccable, graceful even! Pretty much every transition in between songs leads into the next one with finesse! Gotta consider both sides here. And they get even more points because the farther they go, the less I know what to expect in the future! I hope they don’t stop for a very long time. They be making history up in this bitch. Lastly, gotta give props to the diverse array of instruments on here. “Jettison,” is the most experimental the band has gotten with their sound since 2013 and I’m living for it like, that’s one of the things that keeps music exciting for me.

4. How good is the production????

I’d like to take a moment to call myself out for wrecking this part in my last review, which was a disservice to Alt-J. Production is about quality but it’s about so much more as well.

The production of “Jettison,” is fucking epic. That’s where every song truly has its own individual life and personality within the massive tapestry that is this album. There’s quirks I notice. The drum tones getting more intense as we progress through the journey for example. Beyond this, all the extra instrumentation here translates to so many different atmospheres, going from flowy to crunchy and everything in between. Truly an experience here!

5. How is the length????? Too long????? Too short?????

I wish this album could be longer. I can’t imagine this was easy to create, but it’s just such an experience! It could benefit from a good few more decently sized songs without overdoing it. At the end of the day I’m grateful for the nine we have though.

6. How cohesive is this album??????

The cohesiveness here is one of the best things going on “Jettison,” manages to encapsulate a complete actual motherfricking plethora of different vibes but it’s like they’re collectively weaving around this one strand of consistent epicness. Every little element here is like all parts of a personality coming together within a conscious being. From the good to the bad, the ugly, the grandiose, the egotistical, the oriental if you will. It’s all there. You can see their differences but you can’t deny that they are all part of the same thing.

7. What kind of fans is “Jettison,” by And So I Watch You From Afar accessible to?

From a composition standpoint, I’m not sure how the average math rock fan feels about this album. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people were more disappointed by it than me. I feel like it would almost appeal to fans of movie soundtracks even more than post rock fans oftentimes to. So real talk, if you dig the Kung Fu Panda soundtracks and the How To Train Your Dragon soundtracks you’d probably love this. People that are into experimental stuff, I’m also calling your weird asses out here. You’re all local embracers now, embracing all these new soundwaves. There’s such an array of stuff going down in this journey I feel like every song could appeal to all these different fanbases that have nothing to do with each other. It’s just my hope that those who have known them up to this point can see the brilliance in the differences.

8. Did this album hold my attention????????

I’ve zoned out a bit much to “Jettison,” in the process of preparing for this review. This album is a lot more atmospheric than their past releases and packs less of a punch from a music theory standpoint. I needed to give it some time. The more I go however, the more I notice all these really unique and impactful moments all throughout.

9. What story does this album tell from your perspective?????????

So hear me out. The spoken word is reminiscent of how things were before Harambe died.

It’s 2050. Society is in shambles. Most of the land is on fire. A black portal has opened up in the sky and tentacle dick monsters are pouring out. For some reason they challenge humanity to a post/math rock style breakdancing competition. California and Venice have fallen into the ocean. In fact, there’s too much ocean, not enough drinkable water. The main protagonist, either me the writer, or you the reader, is a post apocalyptic bandit that’s had it with everyone’s shit, and is gonna get all that sweet drinkable H2O at all costs.

In parallel with the vibe of “Jettison,” the protagonist goes on an epic fucking journey to get to the bottom of it all. They find out that there’s a secret zombie apocalypse slowly progressing, but the media is using the tentacle monsters to distract everyone from it. So said bandit goes around, takes some breakdancing classes, woops some alien ass, gets captured by other post apocalyptic bandits. But then they all have to settle differences and come together to defeat some invading zombies. Then everyone makes it out alive, just barely. They make it to the ever growing ocean where the perfect amount of jet ski’s just so happen to be sitting there. They ride off into the sun set.

As only half of the moon rises because naive lil humanity tried to blow it up for resources, all that are present raise three fingers to the sky. Main protagonist does the Mockingjay whistle. The pointless revolution goes on.

10. What are the four best songs on “Jettison,” by And So I Watch You From Afar??????????

4. Track #1: Dive: Part I

Right as the album begins, our first track indicates that this is no typical And So I Watch You From Afar album. A never ending river of violins slowly creeps into existence from the ashes of silence, building and building, adding more ambiance and melody. The torrent carries the deep, silky voice of Emma Ruth Rundle through the song as she recites the beginning words to “Jettison.” “Dive: Part I,” is like the beginning of a Lord of the Rings movie in a way. It’s super majestic, slow, elegant. All I can see is lush greenery when I close my eyes to it.

3. Track #4: In Air

This is probably the only song I was sold on right off the bat. The poem at the beginning is perfect and the whole thing is such a journey. It does an excellent job at blending old and new elements in harmony, combining a math rocky melody with a brilliant orchestral riff. They both just build and build as they spiral throughout each other all the way through the song. It all feels like flying around on a dragon. Or on a jet ski?? The cherry on top is when the song fades into ambience just before it would normally breakdown, cleverly leaving all who listen waiting for the satisfaction. It’s like edging in music.

2. Track #8: Jettison

This whole entire song is just a fucking jam. SO MANY transitions. A prime example of why they influence my own writing. The journey it takes me on as an individual song is kind of like a giant staircase with some prize at the top. Riches or something. The more it builds, the closer you get to the money!

1. Track #6: Submerge

This one’s hard to describe. It starts one way, doesn’t take long for it to become unrecognizable. But it’s epic, dynamic, and takes the listener on hella unexpected plot twists. Obsessed with this one truly.

11. What are some of the best lyrics???????????

I’m just gonna post the entire poems to give off a real taste of how beautiful this whole thing is.

Emma Ruth Rundle:

Once
And maybe many times before that
We talked just like this
Trying to remember how it was
Strangers again
And I’d grown so tired of it
All those ideas, just abandoned
The creaking iron eaten away by the salt
Lazy wreckages lying empty
Still pointing their course
Paused by a great retreat
No use
No destination
Waiting
Just like we did

And the warm air smelled like thunder again
And I was happy
I’ve missed you

Neil Fallon:

I missed you
I was in the park, and the park was noisy and green
I laid besides someone, I can’t remember who
But we were in love, and life was exciting and new
And the warm air smelt of thunder, and I was happy

12. What are 13 previously released albums whose fans would love “Jettison????????????”

1. On Little Known Frequencies by From Monuments To Masses (2009)
2. Ideas EP by tide/edit (2012)
3. Stranger In The Alps by Lost In The Riots (2013)
4. Full Heal by Waking Aida (2015)
5. Chorus 30 From Blues For The Hitchhiking Dead by He Was Eaten by Owls (2016)
6. Tom’s Story by Tom’s Story (2016)
7. Health by Alpha Male Tea Party (2017)
8. Separate/Migrate by The Kraken Quartet (2017)
9. These Small Spaces by This Patch Of Sky (2017)
10. Moral Support by Parachute Day (2019)
11. Overgrowth by Heirloom (2019)
12. A Burial At Sea by A Burial At Sea (2020)
13. Recess EP by Stage Kids (2020)

13. Is this album better or worse than it’s predecessor?????????????

They’re gonna have to try a lot harder than that to beat “The Endless Shimmering.” That’s the truth, or fucking “Heirs,” for that matter.

14. Does this album remind you of anything??????????????

It just feels a lot like, before the pandemic. We really had no idea how bad this shit was didn’t we? 2019 was a simpler time.

Out of the things I wrote here that I can give a score too, I give “Jettison,” by And So I Watch You From Afar 6/8 erect penises.

Next time I post, it’ll be my first new local album, Ad Nauseam by Salt Lake experimental band Hoofless.