The Orchestra (For Now) - Plan 76

With their maximalist approach to songwriting and ambitious, grandiose instrumentation, seven-piece The Orchestra (For Now) present their eagerly awaited second EP ‘Plan 76’, a project that continues to demonstrate their self-proclaimed ‘London prog’ sound. Opening with a mystic ambience, ‘Impatient’ swiftly becomes an undulating landscape of boisterous guitar and almost uncomfortably unpredictable movement, reminiscent of Windmill veterans Black Country, New Road or Geordie Greep, but with the immediacy and thrill captured in debut EP ‘Plan 75’. ‘Hattrick’ sees the group jumping frantically between fiery tunnels of rage-laced guitar before finding their feet in theatrical piano breaks and sparse string lines, crafting intensity through musical shapeshifting. Fans of Radiohead may appreciate the darkness and time-shifting nature of ‘Amsterdam’; a track that demonstrates the group’s penchant for absolute erraticness and constant movement, and a perfect example of their standout, scintillating soundscapes. Purveyors of drama and chaotic noise at heart, here The Orchestra (For Now) also showcase their ability to set aside space for intimacy and minimalism, with the reflective ‘Deplore You / Farmers Market’ trading their aforementioned dense instrumentation for softer piano and string elements. Characteristically, however, it’s not long before regular service resumes, with gigantic guitar sounds and animalistic instrumental roars capture the true essence of the group’s desired sound: playful, theatrical, gigantic post-rock.