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Album Review Extracts

"La Guerre des Mondes I can’t help it. I don’t think I’ve heard a more excellent post-rock song, and it’s easily one of the best songs of any kind yet this year … The success of Detwiije’s album is easily attributable to one thing: superb dynamics, which means development, musical logic, real tension, variation, and surprise"
(Cokemachineglow.com)
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"Detwiije’s expansive, guitar driven instrumental rock is quickly becoming a common staple in my cd player … Their first full length release boasts four tracks of splendid, patient instrumental post-rock. This five-member band has the ability to create emotive and uproarious moments with incredible precision and maturity. Ben Levy, Al Harle, Ellie Wilson, Ben Seal, and Shea Hagan make impressive artful expressions. My only hope is that they make much more soon and come to the States to tour.

This album is a 10 out of 10 for me. Perfect instrumental execution is fused with emotive moments, both loud and quiet … I can’t wait for more."
(Somewherecold.com)
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"It would be too easy to lazily compare Detwiije to 'Explosions in the Sky' meets 'A Silver. Mt Zion' and although they are similar, Detwiije manage to bring something new to the Post Rock scene, namely, four tracks of superbly written and beautifully crafted music, lulling you in to a dream like soundscape, you can almost feel your heartbeat syncing with the rise and fall of the music. Plus the opening track features the most stunning full stop ever..... nice."
(Vanity Project)
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"Exciting …Sensational"
(Winterlight translated from Japanese)
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Would You Rather Be Followed By Forty Ducks For The Rest Of Your Life ? figurera très certainement parmi les meilleurs du genre lors du bilan de fin d'année!
(SoundofViolence.net)
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"Detwiije have been gradually cementing their status as one of the greatest newcomers to surface in recent years. The guitar duo pretty much embodies the sonic nature of Detwiije, with all the imaginative chording, while the mesmerizing violin in some way replaces the missing voice. The rhythm section is tight and dexterous, wrapping the sound up with diverse and inventive rhythm patterns. At the end of the day, Detwiije have raised the bar quite high with “Would you rather…?” and only the future will tell if this is just an inspired flash or if more great things are to be made. Kudos for Gizeh for having released this splendorous album."
(Ventrilocution.net)
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"The guitars are quite amazing. Levy and Harle know when to explosively crescendo at the exact moment that best fits the song. On the title track, this happens so much I feel like I am being whipped around by their music. At moments, their sound is soothing, and at other times they come across as being temptingly evil. The violin, played by Ellie Wilson, to me, is the gas that makes this engine run, she introduces a gamut of thoughts and feelings through her violin alone and gives meaning to the vocal-less songs. Detwiije bring an eclectic mix of sound that will knock you off your feet."
(Delusions of Adequacy) PICK OF THE WEEK
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"A fantastic landscape of guitar heavy avant rock … Detwiije appear to steer away from the electronic, truly making the best of their instruments, the slightly gritty guitars setting off the rich swooning strings beautifully to put them shoulders above the rest."
(AngryApe.com)
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"Detwiije have cultivated an impressive bittersweet post-rock cacophony"
(Diskant.net)
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"The powerful roaring guitar work interwinds and emphasizes the attack of the dignified violin and the drums beautifully."
(Linus Records translated from Japanese)
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"They move effortlessly from ball busting intensity, through to beautifully serene soundscapes. Where Detwiije excel above and beyond the rest though, is that you never know when that intense guitar thrashing is going to come. With Mogwai's early work, which this is quite similar to, you always knew (with a few notable exceptions) when they were going to go all out loud, but here they restrain themselves just enough to throw you off. And to that, I tip my hat. Post rock has here been dealt another gem."
(Leedsmusicscene.net)
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"It’s all exhilarating and spectacular stuff, I can imagine the elation of an audience who had let go enough to allow the pulse and dynamics of the music to take over."
(Whisperinandhollerin.com)
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EP Review Extracts

"Six Is Better than Eight is only a four-song EP, but the promise of each of these tracks bodes well for the band's forthcoming LP. Detwiije's thematic thrust is best embodied by their minor keys and gritty explosions, which create a far more somber, though oddly refreshing, emotional impact. It's never wise to speculate on future rewards solely on the basis of a small current offering. However, the four tracks' tortured beauty, and the plenitude of ideas they demonstrate, suggest that Detwiije won't just wake post-rock up for 2004 – they might well kick its ass across the room."
(Splendidezine.com)
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"I'm impressed with their ability to make a wonderful atmosphere with just the most basic of instrumentation. Two of the songs, "La Guerre des Mondes" and "Waltz" are eight minutes long, and those songs are so epic and grand that the time just flies by, and you're left wanting more. Six Is Better Than Eight is better than most American post-rock bands that make this kind of music - and goodness knows there are a LOT of them. A definite keeper, and one that certainly will pique your curiosity."
(Mundanesounds.com — Texas USA)
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"This four tracker from London post-rockers is a fine example of what can be achieved with just the bare essentials - two guitars, bass, drums, and violin. Using dynamics to the max they create cinematic soundscapes of epic proportions in the vein of those Canadians shy boys and girls of GY!BE. It certainly won't be long before this lot find a decent home."
Rating : 8/10
(RockSound Magazine)
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"This is the greatest slab of post rock of the year so far ... you're gonna put your fist through the stereo with sheer excitement. It rocks, it goes ethereal and it has strings. What more do you want? Fecking excellent."
(Norman Records)
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"Think of a doom laden Ride, feedback blazing, squaring up to My Bloody Valentine and tripped off with a seismic symphonic sheen. An awesome release."
(LosingToday.com)
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"Unusual and rather splendid. You can expect a future for this band."
(7by7.net translated from Japanese)
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"Intense violin led post-rock with crushing power way beyond most in this genre. These 4 tracks will grip you, sooth you and leave you feeling bruised but contented."
(Simbiotic)