There are certain types of music that do not require vocals. The music on display is so fantastic that it should be left to speak for itself. BURZUM's output during Varg's prison years is a great example; it can lift you emotionally and mesmerize you from the very beginning, right up until the last note is played. Instrumental bands transcend any given genre, Metal or otherwise, and for this reason, many instrumental bands and albums incorporate experimental sounds to give the music on offer, another dimension. In the case of St. Petersburg's, Florida based band, SET AND SETTING, it is drone and ambient music that gives the music an extra edge which makes it more intriguing and interesting. Their new album, "A Vivid Memory", the follow up to last year's debut "Equanimity", is a great album that anyone who enjoys experimental and instrumental music, should hear.

The opening song on the album, "Waves of Luminescence", begins with lots of ambience and drones. There is very little in terms of Metal music to be found in this particular track, but it is a really good way to start the album off. It's mellow and relaxed, rather than immediately making an effort to destroy your eardrums with a wall of noise. In fact, none of the tracks on this album are really like that. The next song on the album, "The Inevitable Cycle", which has more of a Post-Metal feel about it, is also quite relaxing in terms of sound. This is perhaps, a great service to the album; if this album had a much heavier guitar sound, it would completely kill the atmosphere that is created on this album. Songs like "Emptiness" are brilliant, combining sweet acoustic melodies with ambience, descending seamlessly into "Descending Sun", a track which has a strong Post-Black Metal base upon which the band layers its many experimental elements. It is the longest, and arguably, best song on the record, combining the Black Metal sound with powerful, emotive guitar sections. Perhaps the "heaviest" song on this record is the penultimate track, "Coping", which in many ways is basically a standard Post-Metal tune. It is, at least Guitar and Drum-wise, relentless and is driven forward by it's harsh tone and power. The album ends in pretty much the same way that it begins; with a much more laid back sound, with a lot of ambience. Unlike the first song, "The Last Night, A Vivid Memory", incorporates some drums and guitar parts, but it is nonetheless essentially an Ambient track. The album ends on a mellow note, rather than with a blaze of extremity or heaviness.

Overall, this is a great album. This band has a lot to offer musically, and this album showcases that very well. If they keep producing albums like this one, then they'll definitely gain a huge following and become one of the heavy hitters of the Post-Metal and Ambient scene.
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