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Coalesce

Give Them Rope She Said v2.0 (2004)
Edison

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Contributed by: Aubin
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Published on June 25th 2004

For me, there are two bands of critical importance in progressive hardcore. They might not be the most well known or even the most accessible, but I think that hardcore wouldn't have moved in the directions it has today were it not for Botch and Coalesce. Even their spinoff projects (The Casket Lottery, Minus the Bear) are among the most creative and exciting in their respective genres.

They share many parallels; an emphasis on unorthodox song structures and rhythms, disharmonic musical experimentation and a lack of concern for established constraints. Both were possessed of a minimal aesthetic, crushing power and exemplary musicianship. And as much as I love the Dillinger Escape Plan, I'm well aware of the fact that the brilliance of Calculating Infinity would never have been reached without the pioneering efforts of these two bands.

For the unfamiliar, Coalesce would best be described as combining the sounds of crust-hardcore like His Hero is Gone, the stop-start elements of Quicksand and the noise of Converge. Also audible are moments of grind, death and sludge, but not to the metalcore excesses omnipresent today. It is perhaps an oversimplification because of how finely integrated these diverse sounds are, because Coalesce really doesn't sound like anyone except Coalesce.

With the re-issue of 1997's Give Them Rope in this new format, Coalesce has given everyone a reason to go back to the beginning. Frankly, the original was a “fans-only” kind of release; muddy production, an inaudible rhythm section. I remember recommending “their newer stuff” to anyone who asked about Coalesce, because I can honestly confess that Give Them Rope might have had the brilliant design, but lacked any way of actually hearing it.

This new release is not simply remastered, but remixed, finally making it possible to hear every crucial sound and drum hit from the original recording, and the real brilliance of the band is infinitely more clear. The blasts of “Cut to Length” and “For All You Are”, the rhythmic crunch of “Still It Sells”, the rock elements of “Every Reason To” are finally as flawlessly conveyed as they are written.

The record is not completely perfect, especially when compared to the band's later output like the five star 0:12 Revolution In Just Listening; some of the tracks lack the thematic structures of those later works, but as an introduction to one of the finest heavy bands in recent memory, Give Them Rope She Said v2.0 is a vital purchase.

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Ikari (November 6, 2008)

Chain Smoking is one of my favorite Coalesce songs period let alone from this record.

mathematicscore (April 20, 2005)

"This is not even punk. What is going on with this website. Lets stick to keeping it punxxxx only."

Fuck this dude.

Do I even need to say why?

And this guy...

"Every song on this album sounds the same, it's indistinguishable when one ends and the next begins."

While I can see where he's coming from, ultimately, that's just lazy listening, as is too often the case when the above phrase is uttered.

Basically Coalesce crammed so much into this album, it comes off as sort of a blur. Give it a chance, get your head around it, and you'll start to see where the awesome comes in.

Anonymous (June 29, 2004)

Every song on this album sounds the same, it's indistinguishable when one ends and the next begins.

Anonymous (June 27, 2004)

let's stick to you shutting the fuck up.

Anonymous (June 27, 2004)

This is not even punk. What is going on with this website. Lets stick to keeping it punxxxx only.

Icapped2pac (June 26, 2004)

Coalesce, Botch, and MTB all rule. Anytime I listen to Coalesce or Botch, it makes me want to eat somebody's face off, which is definitely a good thing.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

the guitarist from botch is in minus the bear. the reviewer was refering to projects of both botch and coalesce.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

someone from coalesce is in minus the bear?

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

"Kiss it goodbye was a vast improvement over deadguy."

i adore both bands. both great in different ways.

FortyMinutesWest (June 25, 2004)

Essential.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

Kiss it goodbye was a vast improvement over deadguy.

sickboi (June 25, 2004)

Reggie, of course.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

is the "ugh" for reggie, or for coalesce?

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

p.s. everyone should go listen to deadguy as well, as long as we're on the topic of chaotic hardcore. fixation on a co-worker is CRUCIAL.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

i really need to get this.

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

Aubin:

Don't forget 002: A Safe Place EP

"73-C" can always put a smile on my face.

Ramo

maverick (June 25, 2004)

Ramo-

I have the EP, actually. I'm a huge BSF fan. Coalesce's cover of "Vehicle" always made me chuckle.

-Scott

sickboi (June 25, 2004)

I just can't understand how you go from this to "Reggie"...ugh.

aubin (June 25, 2004)

Well, there are only two others; most people think of Functioning On Impatience as the best, though it's more like an EP. Revolution is my favourite and actually has more in common stylistically with Give them Rope because Functioning... is more groove oriented and less "mathy."

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

Awesome review. I still miss Coalesce to this day...

To Scott:

Just get Functioning On Impatience or 012: Revolution In Just Listening. Both great albums.

And something really sweet get the Coalesce/Boy Sets Fire split. The best split I have ever heard...

Ramo

maverick (June 25, 2004)

This record is some of the heaviest, sickest shit I've ever listened to ever. I love it.

Where should I go from here? What's the next best Coalesce record to buy?

-Scott