New track posted today from Plain Fade, an amazing post-rock act from Finland. I've been trying to hype them for awhile now, but have held off on posting an mp3 until today. There are some bands that hook me the very first time I hear them and Plain Fade are definitely one such group. Even hearing mere one-minute mp3 samples of their work was enough to get me excited, and that's saying something. Some bands grow on you with time, some you just know, intrinsically, without question. Catch my drift? The sound bears the typical trappings of the genre, such as the epic soundscapes and drawn-out dynamic passages, but there's more to it than that. Like countrymen Magyar Posse, they possess a melodic sensibility that I can't adequately describe, except to call it Finnish. It's dark and foreboding, but it's not metal. The only other band I can possibly compare them to would be Kayo Dot, as both acts share similar qualities such as the high, keening vocals and a refreshing rhythmic looseness that allows the songs to flow and breathe. Plain Fade might not be at the same compositional level as Kayo Dot yet, but you can tell they have grand ideas, they just need more time to develop them. My only complaint is that they rarely get quite as heavy as I'd like, but on the other hand, I must admit that the level of restraint works in their favor as it keeps them from becoming yet another band with only two volume settings. By far one of the most promising and audacious debuts I've heard this year. Dial-up users beware - this is a long song and a big download.