Grape Blueprints Pour Spinach Olive Grape

Dilute's 2001 sophomore album proved to be anything but sophomoric. After the artful grace of the opening instrumental track "Planet," Marty Anderson's vocals lead the way on the restless "People." Almost immediately, the Fremont, California band's understated tempo and tender pace makes obvious their fondness for subtlety and the crafty, math-rock musings the like of Don Caballero and American Football. Going from soft art-rock to relentless chord changes in a matter of minutes, the quartet of Jay Pellicci, Ian Pellicci, Craig Colla and Marty Anderson impress with their seamless transitions and precise performances. On "Alphabet," Anderson adds subtle vocals, as the band's serene, delicate instrumentation leads the way. Divided into two parts, the first half of the disc concludes with the thoughtful and brief "Explosion." The last three tracks, "Zero," "Versus," and "One" close out the disc. The soft post-rock of "Zero" gives way to the more frantic and disjointed "Versus," before the mesmerizing and unpredictable "One" brings it all together in a resounding conclusion. The band's limited use of vocals mixed with the quartet's contemplative spirit adds up to a unique sound. In the end, with Grape Blueprints Pour Spinach Olive Grape, Dilute proves they are anything but watered-down.