The Earth is a Man’s self-titled debut in 2011 introduced the world to the Chicago quartet’s interlocking guitar leads and rapid fire song structures. A chance collaboration with Tim Heidecker transmuted Bob Dylan’s “All The Tired Horses” into a hallucination of atmospheric drift and vocal hysterics. Now, the band surfaces from a period of hiatus to present two new compositions in the form of the Pargon cassingle. Recorded live in Chicago at Soma Studios and presented without overdubs, Pargon crams enough intricate guitar melodies, agile basslines, and ballistic percussion into its ~9 minute running time to stand on its own as a testament of the band’s sculpted compositions and drum-tight live performances.
“Taking the ephemeral, atmospheric quality of post-rock without falling into lengthy crescendo-filled onanism and the technical prowess of math rock without trappings itself in needlessly convoluted and irregular time signatures and guitar noodlings, Chicago based band The Earth is a Man strives to make songs and melodies easily remembered and catchy while keeping some of the more experimental tendencies exposed. Interesting guitar interplay and not-so-usual rhythms are a staple here, but it never gets tiring – quite the opposite; TEIAM puts melodic bliss first – they seem like a more ecstatic and a slightly (only slightly!) punkier version of Tortoise, minus their jazz inclinings.” – Weed Temple
“a nicely synth-heavy take on one of the most gorgeously meditative moments in Bob’s catalog” – Chicago Reader
“Dymaxion, the opening track off the group’s self-titled debut, is a bastion of beautiful guitar notes backed by rumbling low bass tones that echo like backing vocals.” – Loud Loop Press
“Kings Arms utilizes math-inspired repetition to underline contrasting melodic lines before pouring into a much-welcomed guitar chorus, alluding to the band’s overall ability to incorporate interesting complexity while creating coherent tracks with omnipresent, albeit evolving, melodies.” – Performer Mag
“…filmic, stylized slices of instrumental rock that cram so much within their relatively small time frames, and do it proficiently and – most importantly – with finesse and heart.” – Sonic Masala
