Manchester, UK based Progressive Post-Rock quartet Civil Service is gearing up to release their debut album “/// Light” on October 40, 2024 via Ripcord Records. The album features many guest collaborators from the Post-Rock world including Din Of Celestial Birds, L.O.E., New Ghost, Dutch Elm and also spoken word narration from Caroline Cawley (Church Of The Cosmic Skull, Dystopian Future Movies).
Purchase and Stream the album’s first single “Lines Of Communication” on Bandcamp:
Manchester Proggy Post-Rockers Civil Service unleash their glossy, elegant & ambitiously collaborative debut album “/// Light“
“A single speck in an ocean of darkness, we advanced towards the radiance oblivious to what would be found there; a sea of static, echo and decay.
For a brief moment there was meaning and connection.
But then it fell silent…”
These are the narrated words that open “/// Light,” drawing you into Civil Service’s sonic landscape; detailed and curious, treacherous and exciting in equal measure. A reflection of the dichotomy of modern society that flutters between beauty and sorrow, order and chaos, light and darkness. The instrumental Manchester, UK based Post-Rockers invite you into an immersive sculpture of sound. A whole universe of aural extravagance where every intricate cog plays a part, from the most explosive guitar leads, choppy drum fills and thundering basslines, to subtle electronic pulses, wandering piano and obscure samples. “/// Light” has been captured by master producer and long term 65daysofstatic engineer and collaborator Dave Sanderson (who has also produced music for Reverend & The Makers, Gilmore Trail and more), featuring the narrated storytelling from Caroline Cawley of Dystopian Future Movies and Church Of The Cosmic Skull fame – whom the band purposely cast to tell their story – with plenty more surprises and guests to come in what has culminated into a collaborative feat and a hugely ambitious labour of love years in the making.
Starting on a high note, Civil Service set an exquisite precedent with the challenging and multi-faceted fourteen minute opener “RETREAT.” Built upon a lingering and steady bass guitar groove, the rest of the band duck and dive around this vibrant motif with exuberant textured guitar leads and lively drums. Civil Service and producer Dave Sanderson weave in a sonic bath of dense synth textures creating this swelling, neon coloured atmosphere akin to wandering through Neo-Tokyo – or perhaps Neo-Manchester. This is the sound of Civil Service worldbuilding and flexing sonic lore. Leading single “LINES OF COMMUNICATION” follows and is suitably the quartet’s most immediate cut, bursting with life and the kind of epic sound that is destined for summer festival stages. Here Civil Service explore themes of modern technology and communication, packed with layers of guest spoken-word in many native languages from friends and peers, and even samples of radio signals and morse code are buried. This builds a thick, shoegazy wall of sound, bringing together influences from both Mogwai and Slowdive. “APOLOGY” is another driving belter where glistening guitars and electronic textures weave around each other. Sounding like a muscular workout jam, here Civil Service’s love of classic sci-fi scores and even Synthwave acts come to fruition.
What a way to conclude this Post-Rock science fiction experience other than an epic two-part suite stretching to twenty minutes in length. “She Felt The Yawning Skyline” throws everything at you – A true feast for the senses – from melancholy and restrained through to explosive and action packed. Patient listeners must stick around for the big finale including a full choir – assembled through the power of digital recording and file-sharing – featuring Civil Service’s Post-Rock comrades and bands they have shared stages with, including Din Of Celestial Birds, Dutch Elm, L.O.E. and New Ghost. Producer Dave Sanderson has truly taken all of his best skills and assets from his many times working with 65daysofstatic and applied those gifts to Civil Service. These collaborative unions expertly bring full circle Civil Service’s desires to feel a true belonging in a music scene and be part of a community of similar minds. “/// Light” is a true monument; a wildly ambitious, joyous, exciting and immaculately detailed work of art that feels steeped in modern Post-Rock lore and culture, lovingly crafted by life-long dedicated fans of the genre.
“Part of the ethos of the record is collaboration. Collaborating with the people who’ve shaped what you’ve made, you’re always picking up ideals from what you’re hearing and seeing… It has taken it from being just ‘our’ record, to all of ours, as a post-rock community.” – Civil Service
FFO: 65daysofstatic, Explosions In The Sky, Russian Circles, Alcest, Public Service Broadcasting, Slowdive.
“/// Light” will be unleashed on CD and Digital formats on October 04, 2024 (with vinyl to follow later) through Glasgow based label Ripcord Records – a positive force in the world of Post-Metal and Experimental Rock and home to the likes of Ba’al, The Grey, Vnder A Crvmbling Moon, Million Moons, Solars and more. The beaming cover art boasts Katie McGuinness’ photograph of The Haslingden Halo, nominated for the Astronomy Photography Of The Year 2023 Awards. Civil Service have been applauded by audiences across the UK for their intricate and dazzling live performances, nesting comfortably into Indie Rock, Post-Rock and Metal scenes. The quartet have shared stages with the likes of And So I Watch You From Afar, Blackshape, Dystopian Future Movies, Din Of Celestial Birds, A-tota-so, Modern Rituals, A-Sun Amissa and many more. Civil Service hope the release of “/// Light” will bring them further afield, and grow their fanbase and their place in their community.
Pre-Order on Bandcamp: https://ripcordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/light
Tracklist:
01. She Would Never RETREAT; Their Negativity Just Made Her Stronger
02. Their LINES OF COMMUNICATION, Severed
03. Now Their Backs Are Bent In Postures Of APOLOGY
04. She Felt The Yawning Skyline: Intangible
05. She Felt The Yawning Skyline: Meaningless
Linuep:
Francis Atkinson / Guitar, Synths and Programming
Alex Coates / Guitar and Programming
Thom Hamper / Drums, Percussion, Programming and Fuzz Mandolin
James Wilkes / Bass
