You know I really feel for new artists trying to make it today in music. Most all acts start out as unsigned, unappreciated and pretty broke. Some get lucky and through the magic of the Internet manage to gain a sizable following, and maybe even a recording contract with some good promotion. Many more though don't, and get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes that's a shame because a lot of talent gets just plain ignored. Then again, some just aren't ready for prime time, and others never will be. Last Snow is an alternative/goth rock band from St. Paul, Minnesota consisting of Kay Trust - vocal, guitar and bass; Dave - lead guitar; Trey - bass; and Matt- drums. 'Guardian of the Threshold' is an EP that seems to be their debut release. They claim that it's a concept piece based on the writings of esoteric philosopher Rudolf Steiner concering "Spiritual Science". Hmmm...potentially deep stuff. It consists of 5 tracks - "Ascent," "The Darkness," "Comfortably Numb," "Through the Veil," and "Carnation". And yes, "Comfortably Numb" is a cover of the Pink Floyd song.

The opener is an innocuous, someewhat mellow, medium tempo instrumental number with guitar, bass and drums and what sounds like a little keyboard. Have you ever seen the hippie/acid cult classic "Psych Out" ? There's a part in the movie where Stoney's (Jack Nicholson) band is rehearsing playing a meandering psychedlic instrumental tune. This reminds me a little of that. "The Darkness" has a bit more motion and direction, steeped in a gothy sort of psychedlia with reverb-swathed gravelly vocal. Not too bad but it definitely sounds like a home recording. Things take a different turn though with "Comfortably Numb". It sounds more like a band on this track but...the vocal is definitely painful. It's not too obvious until you get to the chorus. That's somewhat symptomatic of the song; in the Floyd, Roger Waters (not a great vocalist) sing the verse, and David Gilmour (a pretty good vocalist) has the lead on the chorus. You can get away singing the verses on this number without a really good voice, but not so much on the chorus. It sounds like a bar band that got a spur of the moment request to play the song. This isn't a short song either at over seven minutes. One had better be comfortably numb to put up with it until the end.

"Through the Veil" which follows is another instrumental. With a little more polish (and decent mellow vocals) it sounds like something that might come out of Brian Eno's latter-day ouevre. As an instrumetal though, it meanders a bit too much for my taste. Final track "Carnation" is pretty much along the same line. The problem with Last Snow is that they haven't yet developed an identity in their music, and I doubt they want to be known for the worst ever cover of "Comfotably Numb". This band sounds a lot more alt than goth, and if they ever want to get a review here again, they need to cultivate their goth side. 'Guardian of the Threshold' seems to indicate that Last Snow isn't quite ready for prime time yet. Their next release should tell if they ever will be.