Invisible City is a richly layered, yet subtly understated soundscape. The three guitars (or sometimes two guitars and a keyboard) are precise and distinct without approaching disjointed, busy or flashy. All of the tracks are dreamy, anticlimactic meanderings (”Locked In,” “The Rut”), but about half of them have a little more energy and stir things up a bit (”Lemon Slice,” “Flyweight”). Mike Myers pounds the skins just intensely and tastefully enough to keep the songs moving forward and preserve the spaciousness of the band’s sound. Andrew Ashby’s breathy vocals are a perfect fit musically, and the morose lyrics aren’t obvious enough to make every listen a downer. This stellar work by this all-star group earns four and a half out of a possible five revelations (buy this album if you don’t own it already).

The Zone

To listen to Invisible City is to enter a different world — specifically, one where spacing between words is discouraged and everything functions at a slower speed. Adjusting to the group’s snailcore sound takes time, but eventually the charm of its sleepy songs becomes apparent. The springiest tune, “Lemon Slice,” is powered by a bouncy guitar part that brings to mind a sound effect to accompany a video-game character’s jumps, while the most leisurely track, “Everypenny,” unveils melodic elements before starting to crawl late in the proceedings and bowing out at the seven-minute mark. The vocals throughout the album are intentionally faint, and although most of the percussion parts are equally unobtrusive, at times the guitar lines’ sparseness magnifies the drums’ intensity. On “Picture Ends,” the beat breaks into a march, setting a brisk pace while the guitars and vocals stay lazily behind. With several of its tunes nearing progressive-rock length, Invisible City requires both patience and attention to subtle detail. However, once listeners commit to thestringandreturn’s strangely relaxing world, they’ll probably be convinced to return frequently.

The Pitch

Not since the death of Christie Front Drive has a band been able to capture such a well composed hypnotic quality as do thestringandreturn on this album. I am a huge Christie Front Drive fan so any band that could even come close to a comparison with them already have some points with me. I don’t even know how to describe it, but they are able to play the most simple and relaxed music without sounding basic or boring. This record will not fail to impress Christie Front Drive fans, and maybe even others.

Invisible Youth 

Well, it seems this band has gone through its hard times. With five years of line up changes, break ups, depression, and even a basement practice space flooded with raw sewage, thestringandreturn have just put out their first full length. Recorded in four days (at ex drummer, and now current guitarist’s home studio), the band put this 8 song - fifty-six minute album to tape. A week later they were signed to sunseasky productions.

The final product of those four hot july days was a slow, sad, melodic record. More of that head bobbing, foot tappin’, sweater wearin’ “e” word rock. Their sound kind of reminds me of a mellower Don Caballero, with a little bit of Elliot and that jazzy Karate style thrown in. The music seems to just envelope you and toss you around, with the quiet to build up style. It’s very thick and dynamic, yet very pretty and easy to listen to. All the instruments on the album are played extremely well and the vocals have a deeper and smooth feel that just flow with the music. This is a very flowing record. I’m sure it would be a great record to listen to with headphones.

I look forward to hearing more from them. That is if they can keep a drummer. Hopefully with this full length out and getting some attention they will do a full-on united states tour. They seem like a great band to see live. Not a bunch of mannequins up on a stage. I’m sure they rock the house down during their set.

Go out right this second and go to your local indie record store and tell them to order this. if you’re just too lazy call. I really believe that a lot of people out there would enjoy this.

Tangzine

Invisible City is mostly a technical collection of subdued guitar songs, with somber vocals layered on top. Lyrics seem to deal with self destruction, guilt, etc. I categorize music like this as healer music - stuff you listen to when things are far from going your way. I guess everyone deals with things differently but it’s nice to know that there are bands like the String and Return to help you own up to the bad stuff in an effort to get past it. Besides that, it’s a good CD to listen to when you want to just chill. It sounds good and the musicianship is quality. I like the drums a lot - especially on “Picture Ends”.

Spank