Quicksand Interiors
After 22 years between albums a change in tone or difference in energy is to be expected. But Illuminant kicks right in with an infectious lock–step stomp that immediately pushes its way into the post–hardcore pantheon of classics like Fazer or Dine Alone. The riff perfectly announces in no uncertain terms that Yeah…Quicksand is back. While it engrains itself into your psyche, a layered wash of dissonant lead guitar pours over the top and flows into Walter's smooth, refined vocals.
This kind of layering continues throughout. The undercurrents of early 90s hardcore origins are clearly present, but they're tempered with a highly sophisticated, world–wise guitar sound. All still held down with trademark thunderous bass and Alan Cage's ever present, hyper–precise backbeat. This album may not slash with the razor–sharp edge of Slip or buzz with the frenetic pace of Manic Compression, but if you imagine those albums as framing and subflooring, Interiors is fine finish carpentry. Cosmonauts and the title track are the work of seasoned master craftsmen.
I don't recall the exact quote but when I saw them live Walter jokingly said something to the effect that Sergio is so good at playing the bass it's not even fair. Of course, that's just it—these guys are so damn good at playing this stuff that even a wiser (older), more mature (slower) Quicksand—as ever—plays music that is so good and so cool, loving it is really the only choice.