Do Make Say Think is a Canadian post-rock instrumental group whose songs have more in common structurally with a band like Mogwai than a group like Broken Social Scene (even the old stuff). But, unlike Mogwai, their atmospheric and flowing sounds rarely come across as tense or explosive, which is not to so they aren't as expressive or can't convey those qualities. The music is alarmingly beautiful, glowing and shimmering and occasionally erupting into triumphant crescendos. It's not that they know how to play their instruments, it's that they know what their instruments are capable of doing and seem unwilling to settle for anything less.

"Outer Inner & Secret" is off the group's 2004 album Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn and it is as remarkable as the rest of the material on this disc. It seems like some music encourages us to be outwardly expressive: dance music that encourages at least a head nod; hard rock that makes people, almost invariably, want to "mosh"; etc. But of course there is so much more that is enjoyed best with time to digest it and the attention to pick up the nuances of the song. So much classical music falls into this category and certainly anything willfully described as atmospheric also has to fit the bill. "Outer Inner & Secret" makes me wish I was traveling and reminds of taking the train from London on my way to see Paris for the first time, traveling alone in early spring when I was 20 and staring out the window, just overwhelmed by the whole experience. For some reason, that seems to be my default traveling memory.

Do Make Say Think - "Outer Inner & Secret"