The idea of being able to kick back and simply fall into a piece of music is something that we can all relate to whether be simply because you feel a good connection to the music or because you feel emotionally attached due to life events. While I’m a very regular visitor of extremes like death and black metal, I absolutely can’t do that all the time, and it’s bands like Beyond the Waves that pull me back into a much calmer, more intrinsic world of soothing colors.

If you peruse this site long enough, you’ll notice that I have an affinity for instrumental rock. I simply can’t help but come crawling back to it because of how many unique flavors it can illicit across hundreds of different bands. And while they’re brand-spanking new, California’s Beyond the Waves know exactly how to do instrumental post-rock as if they’ve been doing it for years. The pure craftsmanship of “Mystic Transmission” is enough to show that this group has got post-rock down to a science on their first go, and it’s quite the work to behold if I do say so myself. All five tracks from this debut aren’t anything to lose your mind over, but amidst it all Beyond the Waves manages to bring to life a beautiful cavern adorn with many bioluminescent critters that corall the ceiling above a stagnant pool that glistens from the light. “Mystic Transmission” somehow encapsulates the looking inward towards one’s self that such an environment could bring about, and the chill vibes and delicious rhythms bring everything full circle to really show how well Beyond the Waves can bring everything together by the end. And by the actual end, you’re left feeling oddly enlightened by the tasty rhythms and beautiful musicianship that permeates every second of this debut.

I’m far from saying that “Mystic Transmission” is an album of magnificent proportions to an astounding degree, but damn if this isn’t an attempt worthy of commendation. Beyond the Waves does a great job bringing post-rock to a glorious level with their debut album, and it’s the kind of shit that will easily have me coming back if this group is to follow up at all, and I sincerely hope they do.

LISTEN to “Mystic Transmission” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Beyond the Waves on Facebook here.