Gregor Samsa

Over Air is a collection of odds and ends from Virginia-based mini-orchestra Gregor Samsa. It compiles a six-track radio session with alternative takes and remixed tracks from the group's first two records. The radio sessions, recorded at VPRO in Amsterdam, are a beautiful series of tracks, which culminate on "Young and Old" with crashing cymbals and screeching guitars. The remaining trio of songs fall more into the Godspeed You Black Emperor school of post-rock and are a bit of a sonic shift, with the tracks feeling a little incomplete. But Champ Bennett and Nikki King's twin vocal melodies hold these nine tracks together. Comparisons to Sigur Rós, particularly with the radio recordings, are inevitable given the similar instrumentation, pacing and mood employed. But where Sigur Rós are a force of nature raining down sun and thunder, Gregor Samsa are the earth below, reacting and left to deal with the aftermath. With the hodgepodge presented here, it's difficult to say which direction the group will take for their third LP, but Over Air is certainly a worthy stopgap to entice newbies and satiate the initiated.