Ataraxia/Taraxis

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Ataraxia/Taraxis
Aaron Harris
  • Kemble Walters
    • Pelican chronology
    What We All Come to Need
    (2009)     		Ataraxia/Taraxis
    (2012)     		Forever Becoming
    (2013)

    Ataraxia/Taraxis is the fifth EP by American post-metal band Pelican, released through Southern Lord Records on April 10, 2012.[1] Ataraxia/Taraxis was Pelican's final release to include founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec.[2]

    Background and composition

    In 2010, two years prior to the release of the Ataraxia/Taraxis EP, founding member and guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec retired from touring with Pelican.[2] In an official press release, it was clarified that the parting was amicable, and that he chose to focus on his family and career instead of the band.[3] After concluding recording of Ataraxia/Taraxis, Schroeder-Lebec admitted that his "heart wasn't fully in" preparation for the next full-length album, and he removed himself from the composing process.

    Pelican's goal with Ataraxia/Taraxis was to capture all major sides of the band's sound, "melodic rock, smokey doom, ambient soundscape, acoustic desert-folk, and minimalist electronics."

    Aaron Harris of fellow post-metal outfit Isis
    aided in recording percussion for the EP.

    A music video for "Lathe Biosas" was released on August 20, 2013.[4] A brief clip of the EP's first track, "Ataraxia", serves as the introduction to the video, which goes on to intersperse acted scenes with live performances.[5]

    Critical reception

    Professional ratings
    Aggregate scores
    SourceRating
    Consequence of Sound
    		C+[8]
    Drowned in Sound[9]
    Exclaim![10]
    Metal Injection(positive)[11]
    PopMatters[12]
    Thrash Hits[13]

    Ataraxia/Taraxis was met with positive reception. The EP received an average score of 74/100 from 7 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6] Alternative Press reviewer Jason Pettigrew called the EP "ambitious" and "essential".[7] Denise Falzon of Exclaim! wrote, "Each song on Ataraxia/Taraxis is diverse, with moments of melodious prog-rock, powerful riffs and hazy ambience; however, there's also cohesion to the EP that makes it feel expansive and utterly epic."[2] Writing for Drowned in Sound, Michael Brown said the EP "reinstates Pelican at the top of the instrumental food chain and, if they continue like this, they show no sign of coming down."[9] Brice Ezell of PopMatters called moments of the EP disappointing, but also wrote that as a whole, it is excellent and never boring.[12]

    Track listing

    No.TitleLength
    1."Ataraxia"3:21
    2."Lathe Biosas"4:46
    3."Parasite Colony"4:41
    4."Taraxis"5:14
    Total length:18:03
    Japanese bonus tracks[14]
    No.TitleLength
    5."An Inch Above Sand" (Live)3:58
    6."The Creeper" (Live)6:10
    7."What We All Come to Need" (Demo)5:22
    Total length:33:33

    Personnel

    Pelican

    • Trevor de Brauw – guitar
    • Bryan Herweg – bass
    • Larry Herweg – drums
    • Laurent Schroeder-Lebec – guitar

    Additional personnel

    • Aaron Harris
      – recording
    • Aaron D.C. Edge – layout
    • Collin Jordan – mastering
    • Sanford Parker – mixing, recording
    • Andrew Weiss – photography
    • Eric Palmquist – drum assistance

    Chart positions

    Chart (2012) Peak
    position
    US
    Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15]
    		 23

    References

    1. ^ Andrew Martin (January 10, 2012). "Pelican Announce New EP, 'Ataraxia/Taraxis'". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
    2. ^ a b c Adams, Gregory (June 27, 2012). "Pelican's Laurent Schroeder-Lebec Leaves Band". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
    3. ^ a b "Important Announcement Jun 26 2012". hydrahead.com/pelican. Pelican. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    4. ^ Breihan, Tom (21 August 2013). "Pelican – 'Lathe Biosas' Video". Stereogum. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
    5. ^ "Pelican – Lathe Biosas (Official Video)". Southern Lord Records. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
    6. ^ a b "Ataraxia/Taraxis [EP] by Pelican – Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    7. ^ a b Pettigrew, Jason. "Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    8. Consequence of Sound
      . Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    9. ^ a b Brown, Michael. "Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    10. ^ Falzon, Denise. "Pelican, Ataraxia/Taraxis". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    11. ^ Ulrey, Jeremy (18 April 2012). "CD Review: Pelican Ataraxia/Taraxis". Metal Injection. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    12. ^ a b Ezell, Brice (22 April 2012). "Pelican: Ataraxia/Taraxis". PopMatters. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
    13. ^ Ruth Booth. "EP: Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis". Thrash Hits. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
    14. ^ Ataraxia/Taraxis (Japanese edition) (CD liner notes). Pelican. Daymare Recordings. 2012. DYMC-159.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    15. ^ "Pelican Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
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