"Ilium doesn't feel restricted by their minimal line-up. Instead, they use it to their benefit, as their songwriting structure is their chosen point of focus. As well as being meticulously assembled, Ilium's songs highlight their ability to extract and reconfigure components of various jazz, electronic and rock influences."

The above paragraph was lifted from the bio that accompanied this little digital puff of air freshener. Quite, well, yes, ahem... naturally (cough). Now, all the Rock Institute of Technology kids presently living in Chicago can nod and tap their toes in time with every tonal shift and rhythmic adjustment on Paint by Number, knowing that Ilium is bravely charting new musical territory. Guitar and bass lines weave in and out of each other with complete melodic correctness, the drums accent beats you never thought were there, spacy tones are thrown in at all the appropriate moments... oh, it's all a fantastic tapestry, innit?

It's pretty hard to make instrumental music memorable, and Ilium is the case in point. Two steps down from the wonderfully offensive bombast of Don Caballero, three steps up from the mood shapings of Directions in Music or Tortoise, Ilium stand on the part of the post-rock stairwell where nothing ever happens. Many will love this formless fuh, but to these ears, it sounds so correct and nice and polished that it makes you want to puke on it, just to give it some texture. But the band seems aware of their perfectionist tendencies, forsaking song titles for what they would probably term "pieces."

One could try to point out some nice moments, like that part with the galloping 8/13 time where the guitarist added a ninth in the tonic three quarters through that measure there, but one might feel like one is talking through their earthy, unshaven ass. Said people should devote more time to studying the ups and downs of the stock market.

-Samir Khan