April 29th, 2014 
Kyle Florence 
Artist: Frameworks
Album: Loom
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Screamo/Emo
Label: Topshelf Records
Each day, the lines that separate one genre from the next become more and more blurred. As musicians from all walks of life attempt to make their mark on history, borders are stretched in the pursuit of originality, and though this creative conquest can sometimes yield gold, the hunt for a distinctive sound can be an uncertain road fraught with misfires.
Still, art in its purest form will always find a way to rise above the white noise; so is the case with Gainesville, Florida’s Frameworks. Started in 2011, the group joined Topshelf Records’ roster last fall following the release of two acclaimed EPs, and recently joined forces with producer Jack Shirley to craft their debut full-length, Loom.
On this latest offering, the four-piece combines a vast array of dynamics to weave a tapestry of sound that defies classification and seems perfectly happy dipping its toes into any number of genres. Complete with country plunks, jazzy breaks, and gritty punk trudges, Loom quickly proves to not only be incredibly innovative, but also impressively focused.
Following the 24-second intro “Disquiet,” the album’s title track kicks things off with a kind of upbeat exuberance that is foreign to a vast majority of Frameworks’ peers. A soaring lead rockets high overhead like a warm gulf breeze, exchanging blows with punchy guitar riffs and anguished vocals. “Mutual Collision” showcases the group’s uncanny ability to balance back-snapping aggression and poignant melody, its dreamy closing cut short by the bombastic introduction of “True Wealth.” An ambitious tune built around a cinematic climax, the heavily distorted track is propelled forward by spastic percussion, and like all the songs found on Loom, never once attempts to hog the spotlight.
“Splinters” starts modestly before exploding into a beautifully moving conclusion, while the off-kilter guitar work of “Rosie” at times could be mistaken for some long-lost In Utero b-side. Arguably Loom‘s most unpredictable offering, the foggy track’s undecided personality is reminiscent of the abrupt scene changes found on Deafheaven’s groundbreaking record, Sunbather, which, not surprisingly, Shirley also had a hand in.
Swift and persistent, “Bright and New” initially comes off as straightforward, but separates itself from the pack in its closing measures when it takes on a very unexpected and very cool country twang. “Affordance” and “Familiar Haze” again find the four-piece expertly melding violence and splendor, making use of breathy ambient breaks and smart guitar work. “Autonomy” follows with the ferocity of a cornered animal before easing gently into the album’s longest and final track, “Agreeable Thoughts.” Beginning simply, it swells to a cascading peak that seems unwilling to end even as it slowly fades to a silent conclusion.
While there are many bands trying to put their own spin on long-standing traditions, none of them are doing so in quite the same way as Frameworks. While other attempts feel forced, each of Loom’s 11 tracks flow effortlessly into the next, which is a feat in itself when one considers their diverse individual make-up. Not quite hardcore, not quite emo, and not quite screamo, the outfit has taken the best aspects of each of their diverse influences and combined them to create a vivid listening experience that is truly unlike any other.
SCORE: 9/10
Review written by Kyle Florence
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