In this current climate of high-speed wish fulfillment, I have a tendency to look upon bands yearning for quick ups in the music industry as being rather parasitic. On rare occasions, however, I sometimes stumble across a band that is literally worth the "early hype" so-to-speak, and when this happens I like to do everything I can to spread the gospel of said musical entity. San Diego, California's Galt Aureus (say it "gault-ow-ray-oos," a combo of the protagonist from the seminal novel Atlas Shrugged and good old Latin) are just one such band, and I'm willing to wager that when their debut full-length drops this summer, this quartet will generate some fiery praise and worthwhile buzz. The reasons for this are many. Galt Aureus favor the recent trend of evolution via retrogression; rather, the band describes their sound as "reinvigorated rock with the resurrected spirit of the classical music of old." Though dissimilar, a band of like mind would be the Decembrists for example. The two advance tracks I managed to get my greedy paws on showcase less a style and more a spirit that Galt Aureus wallows in; pianos, dual-gender vocal arrangements, and post-punk chords all collide into a centerpoint of shining, golden, Romanticism-tinged grace. Epic and grand, Galt Aureus seems to crave stirring up emotions of wild grandeur in the listener; the band's sweeping, historical-themed tunes give credence to the vastly aged maturity this band gives off. I'd even dare call it "Pax Romana Rock", and the spirit here is definitely one of Antiqueum.
With this in mind, the songs themselves are easily something to get excited about. The first moody showing, "Fall, the Legions" soars in on lush orchestra flourishes all while zephyrs of post-punk guitars weave in-and-out of the tapestry. Dual vocals duties are shared by guitarist/keyboardist Saher Behrooznia and guitarist Susan Williams, the duo's rich, full voices combining alto and tenor tendencies for a potent combination. At one point, the tune seemingly ends, only to start with one small portion that quickly snowballs into a stirring, fist-pumping climax of neo-classical arena rock. As strong as "Legions" undoubtedly is, the quiet majesty that is "The Errant Humble" will probably convert many more fans. Why? The answer is clear in the song itself; elegant, restrained, and almost outright dainty, this soft piano/keys ballad makes lighter waving almost a prerequisite. Utterly beautiful, the song's shimmering splendor will slowly but surely blind even the most intense musical eyes, and again, one can't help but sing the praises of this somber elegy.
All-in-all, Galt Aureus is a band to watch out for. I simply cannot shill the academic and mystical aspects of these layered, vibrant tunes. If you want to see what got me so intrigued, visit the band over at www.myspace.com/galtmusic and see for yourself. Oh, and one more thing; I recommend caution as the band likes to keep their surprisingly ambitious musical layering very subtle, and once you see the bigger picture it all might just blow your mind.
