While listeners have come to appreciate and adore the aggressive drums and reverb filled guitar riffs which have become standard in the post-rock world, many of the more intrinsic artists have become unspoken heroes among the barrage of clustering noises. Primarily, those with a penchant for acoustic guitars and violins that aren't used for loud purposes are often neglected for their more energetic peers; outside of a few relatively high-profile artists, music of this ilk is wholly unappreciated. Every once and a while it’s nice to be able to put on some music which enables us to just sit back and collect ourselves, allowing the acoustic and classical influences to seep deep into the pores. High-octane instrumental bands are unable to effectively convey this emotion, but a whole different world awaits us underneath the surface.

Pictureville, the brainchild of Daniel Halliday of Motodestra, is a project that accomplishes this unwinding feeling remarkably well. While Daniel Halliday normally entertains himself with electric guitars and computer beats, but he goes in the completely opposite direction with Pictureville. The sound constructed during Threads is driven by a soothing acoustic guitar and a delicate violin. The frailty of the two instruments is at the heart of the EP, creating emotional, touching works.

Threads opens with “Once Around,” a track with an acoustic guitar riff that sets a fast pace for the album, but is meant to get the listener in an easy-going mood by slowly unwinding him into a gentle state. As "Once Around" continues onward, the violin kicks in and alleviates the listener's worries of everyday life by dissolving in the sea of tranquility which is systematically forged by Daniel Halliday. The second track “Threads” is the most upbeat and positive song on the EP, and is dominated by a fast and joyful acoustic guitar loop which continues throughout the entire song and is supported by creeping notes from both the violin and bass. “Faint Falls” is the standout track on the effort, which is a slow paced song that’s rather difficult to convey in words. This beauty moves along at a leisurely pace, but contains many overlapping instruments which transport the listener to a warm summer day near a small and peaceful stream - a feeling which continues throughout the rest of the EP.

While it's not uncommon to see a band base a track off the interplay between acoustic guitar and violin  (The Album Leaf comes to mind), sadly there are very few bands which utilize this approach in a majority of their music. The acoustic guitar has something magical about it; it’s able to create a very different and distinct tone, and the organic nature makes it very approachable and natural to our ears. Listeners looking for a new instrumental flavor should check out Pictureville - it's almost picture perfect!

-Erich Meister