By Million Wires – Not Over

If you’ve paid attention to what’s happening in the alternative and indie rock scenes, you’ve probably noticed that many longstanding and emerging artists are delivering some of the finest work these genres have seen in recent years. Even if you press play at random, there’s a low chance you’ll be treated to a weak and unpleasant song. However, with the oversaturated scenes like these, there are works that may seem repetitive, bland, and uninteresting to some listeners. This has a lot to do with the fact that many of those artists and bands do not or over-experiment with their music, try to reinvent the same old wheel, or overly mimic something renowned greats of those genres recorded and released decades ago. Whatever the reason might be, sometimes some songs might seem to be too much. Thankfully, By Million Wires fully understands that for good music, you need to give your best and avoid all the obstacles songcrafting might pose to them. By returning with a new material after almost a decade and a half break, they’ve not only delivered one of the finest works the Polish and European scene has witnessed in years, but also exemplify how a tremendous dedication while writing, composing, arranging, and producing exceptional music can affect the course of the final product. “Not Over,” an extended play released today, on May 1st, contains five songs, or should I say five reasons why you’ll immediately convince yourself to spin this material all over again, once the last notes and beats fade away. Lyrically, it’s a material that explores various sentiments, moods, situations, and circumstances with such precision and finesse. Through poetic storytelling, the band thoughtfully and wisely builds a profound narrative that will immediately resonate with the broader audience. Sonically, By Million Wires combines several styles in order to depict lush sonic imagery. Alternative rock and indie first come to mind mainly because the band infused all the fundamental elements of these genres. However, you’ll also notice how post-rock plays a vital role here, giving that luxuriant, dreamy, captivating, cinematic vibe. Then, there are spacious, reverby instrumentations reminiscent of shoegaze or dream pop sound, occupying the majority of these songs. Each one of those styles affects the mood and ambiance of these songs, uplifting them on an entirely new level without spoiling their core. Therefore, “Not Over” is one of those extended play releases that will not only appeal to the longtime alternative, indie, and post-rock fans but also to anyone who appreciates music crafted and performed straight from the heart.

This epic sonic journey commences with jangly, angular chord progressions of “Over.” You’ll immediately notice how those chord progressions were flawlessly recorded and perfectly paired with the remainder of the instrumentation. There are additional guitar layers, delivering themes, melodies, harmonies, and other sonic maneuvers, keeping this introductory piece as detailed as possible. Naturally, the song evolves gradually into many orchestrations that vividly showcase By Million Wires’s outstanding songwriting and composing abilities. In the meantime, the vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines and steady moderate rhythmic sequences keep everything in line while contributing more than enough groove and pace. “Glass Houses” is coming up next, further expanding the sound of this incredible Polish band. Once again, their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities are on full display. Each theme, melody, harmony, chord progression, and riff complements such a beautiful vocal performance. The soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, and powerful vocal lines serve as the centerpiece, elevating each instrumentation to new heights, commanding attention, and guiding listeners on an epic journey through the expansive sonic universe. Depending on the song’s mood and ambiance, the vocalist either delivers calm, soothing, relaxing harmonies or more melodic chants, perfectly balancing low, mid, and high notes. “I Know Better” is another standout track where the exceptional drumming performance, based upon moderate, well-accentuated, tastefully arranged, and flawlessly performed beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, dictates the pace and uplifts instrumentation to an entirely new level. The bass guitar helps out those rhythmic patterns by offering more heaviness, clarity, and depth through thoughtfully assembled, vividly hearable low ends. Those deep, dense, warm, heavy basslines complement guitar interplays without overwhelming any other instrument. “Lost Or Won” is another fine piece of sonic artistry where tremendous emotion delivered through outstanding vocal performance meets the marvelous guitar interplays, intricate basslines, and incredible rhythmic sequences. As soon as you press play, you’ll immediately notice how each member plays a significant role in this sonic equation, making every segment worth spinning this gem all over again. This epic sonic journey ends with “Runaway,” a perfect closing song that sums up all the brilliance of this incredible band. Their dedication to the craft shines through each instrumentation, every arrangement, profoundly detailed segments, perfect song structure, and many brilliant ideas delivered vocally, sonically, and rhyhtmically. After hearing this gem, you’ll immediately place this material among your favorite recordings this year.

Bands like By Million Wires are considered a rarity nowadays, but thankfully, these folks are back stronger than ever, with a material that will instantly win your hearts and minds. “Not Over” is a post-rock masterpiece adorned with alternative and indie rock elements, perfect for anyone who appreciates clever songwriting and flawless performance. If you’re looking for an extended play release that will remain on your playlist for a very long time, these five songs would be a perfect choice, because “Not Over” is a top contender for a post-rock EP of the year.