Despite having a certain fondness for music that’s weird or unusual or ‘out there’, I honestly can’t say instrumental post-rock is a genre I listen to much. How much fun is there in listening to practice room jams for the umpteenth time? There’s some bands that I think are above average because they actually seem to know what they’re doing and are able to come up with something resembling actual tunes (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY and ISIS spring to mind) or because they’re simply mind-numbingly heavy (early PELICAN). More often than not however, the endless jamming and doodling of bands like this makes me want to go read a book or even do the goddamn dishes. THE SNAKE TRAP fall somewhat in the latter category, although the melodic, somewhat TELEVISION-like opening track is quite easy on the ears and every now and then they have the decency to up the tempo somewhat, making it sound almost punk. Almost but not quite. Actually that last line is a pretty good summary of the entire album. There’s some nice little riffs and bits here and there but nothing memorable, nothing that sticks or makes me want to listen to this record again. Ah well, at least I got that big stinking pile of dishes done.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/thesnaketrap

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