Ataraxia/Taraxis

Ataraxia/Taraxis is a 2012 extended play (EP) by American post-metal band Pelican, released through Southern Lord Records on April 10, 2012.[1] Ataraxia/Taraxis was Pelican's final release to include founding guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec.[2]

Ataraxia/Taraxis
EP by
Pelican
ReleasedApril 10, 2012
Studio
  • Engine Studios (Brooklyn, New York)
  • Infrasonic Sound (Los Angeles, California)
GenrePost-metal
Length18:03
LabelSouthern Lord Records (LORD155)
Producer
Pelican chronology
What We All Come to Need
(2009)		 Ataraxia/Taraxis
(2012)		 Forever Becoming
(2013)

Background and composition

In 2010, two years prior to the release of the Ataraxia/Taraxis EP, founding member and guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec retired from touring with Pelican.[2] In an official press release, it was clarified that the parting was amicable, and that he chose to focus on his family and career instead of the band.[3] After concluding recording of Ataraxia/Taraxis, Schroeder-Lebec admitted that his "heart wasn't fully in" preparation for the next full-length album, and he removed himself from the composing process.

Pelican's goal with Ataraxia/Taraxis was to capture all major sides of the band's sound, "melodic rock, smokey doom, ambient soundscape, acoustic desert-folk, and minimalist electronics."[3] Aaron Harris of fellow post-metal outfit Isis aided in recording percussion for the EP.

A music video for "Lathe Biosas" was released on August 20, 2013.[4] A brief clip of the EP's first track, "Ataraxia", serves as the introduction to the video, which goes on to intersperse acted scenes with live performances.[5]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
Alternative Press[7]
Consequence of SoundC+[8]
Drowned in Sound[9]
Exclaim![10]
Metal Injection(positive)[11]
PopMatters[12]
Thrash Hits[13]

Ataraxia/Taraxis was met with positive reception. The EP received an average score of 74/100 from 7 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6] Alternative Press reviewer Jason Pettigrew called the EP "ambitious" and "essential".[7] Denise Falzon of Exclaim! wrote, "Each song on Ataraxia/Taraxis is diverse, with moments of melodious prog-rock, powerful riffs and hazy ambience; however, there's also cohesion to the EP that makes it feel expansive and utterly epic."[2] Writing for Drowned in Sound, Michael Brown said the EP "reinstates Pelican at the top of the instrumental food chain and, if they continue like this, they show no sign of coming down."[9] Brice Ezell of PopMatters called moments of the EP disappointing, but also wrote that as a whole, it is excellent and never boring.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Ataraxia"3:21
2."Lathe Biosas"4:46
3."Parasite Colony"4:41
4."Taraxis"5:14
Total length:18:03
Japanese bonus tracks[14]
No.TitleLength
5."An Inch Above Sand" (Live)3:58
6."The Creeper" (Live)6:10
7."What We All Come to Need" (Demo)5:22
Total length:33:33

Personnel

Pelican

  • Trevor de Brauw – guitar
  • Bryan Herweg – bass
  • Larry Herweg – drums
  • Laurent Schroeder-Lebec – guitar

Additional personnel

  • Aaron Harris – recording
  • Aaron D.C. Edge – layout
  • Collin Jordan – mastering
  • Sanford Parker – mixing, recording
  • Andrew Weiss – photography
  • Eric Palmquist – drum assistance

Chart positions
Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15] 23
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References
  1. Andrew Martin (January 10, 2012). "Pelican Announce New EP, 'Ataraxia/Taraxis'". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  2. Adams, Gregory (June 27, 2012). "Pelican's Laurent Schroeder-Lebec Leaves Band". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. "Important Announcement Jun 26 2012". hydrahead.com/pelican. Pelican. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  4. Breihan, Tom. "Pelican – 'Lathe Biosas' Video". Stereogum. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  5. "Pelican – Lathe Biosas (Official Video)". Southern Lord Records. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  6. "Ataraxia/Taraxis [EP] by Pelican – Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  7. Pettigrew, Jason. "Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  8. Young, Alex. "Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis EP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  9. Brown, Michael. "Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  10. Falzon, Denise. "Pelican, Ataraxia/Taraxis". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  11. Ulrey, Jeremy. "CD Review: Pelican Ataraxia/Taraxis". Metal Injection. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  12. Ezell, Brice. "Pelican: Ataraxia/Taraxis". PopMatters. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  13. Ruth Booth. "EP: Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis". Thrash Hits. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  14. Ataraxia/Taraxis (Japanese edition) (CD liner notes). Pelican. Daymare Recordings. 2012. DYMC-159.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "Pelican Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
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