Ever since I first heard John Cale drone away The Velvet Underground With Nico and White Light/White Heat with The Velvet Underground, I have had a soft spot for drones amidst melody. The drone creates an atmosphere, whether dark or light, that envelops a song and therefore the listener. Bosch’s With You use this drone to great success.

Dreams that come a Thing - Part Two ...As If completes part one and pulls off a fairly well rounded, albeit short, album. The first track is a delight of atmospheric drones that morph and evolve and never seem to get stale. It is a drone, but it is a drone that is rich with texture that changes as the lead melody of the guitar travels to different realms. It is dark, it is smooth, and, on occasion, it offers a peak into something lighter. The lead guitar is reminiscent of the ever popular post country, clean tremolo with a hint of earthy sound that ends up being rather effectively paired with a dark base drone. It is not quite ambient and not quite experimental; it strikes a good balance between the two.

“Episode #4 (Dreams that come a thing)” carries on this drone, initially with a lighter tone. Echo and reverb laden guitars build the backbone of the atmosphere as the lead guitar rambles on, but there is an accent that occurs on occasion that is rich and deep, filling out the sound and mood wonderfully. The drums on this track are nice, but they seem a little flimsy compared to the amount of energy surrounding them; when the drums stop and the drones hit full force, that is when the track meets its potential.

Track three is a live version of “Episode #1 (Dreams that come a thing)” from Dreams that come a Thing - Part One ...never thought it may seem and has a much more delicate mood about it. It is a more melodic, rhythm driven piece that provides a nice contrast to the previous tracks. However, with such a short track list, it seems silly to end the album with an outlier. It gets ruckus like the other tracks, but loses the atmospheric elements that make the previous tracks so robust. It makes sense as an opening track that would set the stage for what is to come, but as an ender it leaves me unsatisfied.

All in all, the album is a wonderful compilation of long, dark and emotive songs. I would use Dreams that come… as a soundtrack to a film or a long drive through the desert. The varying moods and tones make it an excellent travel companion as it explores many different depths throughout its musical journey.

-Greg Norte