Album Details

• Artist: Corridor
• Album: Real Late
• Label: Manimal Vinyl
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-11-14

Michael Quinn's latest is another foray into the murky waters of trying to make shoegaze current and vital. "Real Late" succeeds at that, not only because it is a genre with much freedom to work within, but also because Corridor are a compelling band that is not afraid to work within and transcend expected limits. This is far from a typical sophomore release; it is confident and soulful, layered and evocative.

The meditative pulsing "Objective Lens" serves as the opener, though the shimmering, Echo-ish groove of "Pieces of Work" would have also been a good entry into what follows. Quinn builds tension and power as they set progresses, with "Roam Room's" anthemic, throbbing acoustic drive setting the stage for the mini-epic "C.I.T.M," which is part guitar freakout, part cosmic lounge tune.

The final three songs are the best. "Rebuilding My Internal World" has a soaring but biting ambient shoegaze tone, a powerful set-up for the abstract and abrasive "Willful," probably Corridor's best song to date. The closer is the sharp and angular "Acclaim," a moody but effective piece.

"Real Late" buzzes with dreamy purpose and signals that Corridor have a long road ahead of them. They may echo the past in their sound, but this is music that looks up and to future greatness.

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