The Mercury Program - All the Suits Began To Fall Off EP (2001)

A stunning EP of powerful instrumental rock. Five mathy yet flowing, vibraphone powered rock tracks. The Mercury Program began in Florida and played a noisy rocking DC style sound, somewhat similar to a mostly instrumental Hoover but with vibraphones and spoken word pieces. For this EP, their second release, they gave up the vocals and focused on the repetition and ringy sound of the vibraphone and came up with a much headier sound that is part DC influenced, part Tortoise influenced. The songs open up and rock pretty hard at times, but mostly its all very tasteful and fluid, especially the wonderful ending track A Delicate Answer. It is one of the best instrumental releases I own. The Secret to Quiet and Marianas are two songs that anyone should have if they like Post-Rock, but the whole EP plays as an album really well. There are so many good things to say about every piece of this album so you will just have to tell me what you think.

They released an album since this release that delves even more into the hypnotic effect of the vibraphone. It is called Data Learn the Language and is also worth hearing though much calmer and even more resembles Tortoise. They also released a split in 2003 with another awesome instrumental act, Maserati. The Program seems to still be going, as their page states that new songs have been written since last summer. So check out the Bands Website and hopefully they release a new album as good as the All the Suits EP.