Emeralds are essentially a three-piece drone-come-noise-come-soothing-sounds group born out of the “midwest scum-noise scene”. All relatively usual stuff, aside from the fact that the group have already built up a sort of internet-mythology around themselves. After releasing several cassette tapes and CD-R’s from 2006 onwards, Emeralds have slowly become hot debate in music forums online and their debut full-length album comes with high expectations.

To those not in the know, tapes have become very much become the new vinyl; while this may seem an odd and rather polarised perception of the importance of cassette tapes, it is nonetheless true. Due to the fact that tape recorders can now be bought for mere pounds (or dollars, for you Yanks) bands are now releasing shadowy, often static recordings on these old commodities and a quick check of everyone’s favourite auction website will tell you how much tapes by these new and downright exciting drone/noise/dub/tribal projects can fetch. Still, The Silent Ballet doesn’t award its ratings based on the price a record can fetch and Emeralds' first full-length record Solar Bridge isn’t even on tape, but an idea of these new recording methods is necessary to understand this debut album.

See, what may work on tape often doesn’t work on a crystal clear CD, or even MP3s. A band's faults, their mishaps with recordings, or even their lack of talent can quickly become apparent on a CD, whereas it might have been covered by the gloomy interference of a tape deck. With this in mind, let’s see if Emeralds’ Solar Bridge stands up to the challenge.

I won’t keep you in suspense; it does. Opener “Magic” slowly filters through, offering babbling brooks of enchanted noise that literally seeps into your ears and in turn, your soul. With its poignant display of noise and melody, as well as the almost violent synth that drives the piece, Emeralds sound more like a fifty strong drone-orchestra (if there such a thing) all scrabbling to add their own elements to the composition - and the fact that Emeralds are made up of three young and visionary men makes it all the more phenomenal.

The second and final track, “The Quaking Mess” is not as dense as “Magic”, but does offer up some interesting tones that do more than enough to keep the listener suitably entertained and intrigued. Solar Bridge is not the most accessible album, but give it chance and you will soon find it growing on you.

Comparisons have been made to Throbbing Gristle, and while Solar Bridge does not scream of Genesis P-Orridge and co, the influence is there. Emerald’s record label, Hanson Records, submit that “fans of the…buzzing thick drones of Throbbing Gristle's 'Heathen Earth' should take note, as EMERALDS may be their new source for electronic drugs.” However, if you prefer your Throbbing Gristle lite and in the form of Carter Tutti, then Emeralds’ record is almost definitely for you. Solar Bridge marks the first chapter in Emeralds’ full-length career and, as I am sure you will, I hotly await the next installment.

-Holly Emblem