Ataraxia/Taraxis

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. 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.{{cite web|title=Important Announcement Jun 26 2012|url=http://www.hydrahead.com/pelican/news.php|website=hydrahead.com/pelican|publisher=Pelican|accessdate=January 1, 2018}} 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." 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.{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=Pelican – 'Lathe Biosas' Video|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1443762/pelican-lathe-biosas-video/video/|work=Stereogum|date=21 August 2013 |accessdate=January 3, 2018}} 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.{{cite web|title=Pelican – Lathe Biosas (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI092yWHwBc|publisher=Southern Lord Records|accessdate=January 3, 2018}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 74/100{{cite web|title=Ataraxia/Taraxis [EP] by Pelican – Reviews and Tracks|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/ataraxiataraxis-ep/pelican|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev1 = Alternative Press

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Pettigrew|first=Jason|title=Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis EP|url=https://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/pelican_ataraxia_taraxis|work=Alternative Press|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev2 = Consequence of Sound

| rev2score = C+{{cite web|last=Young|first=Alex|title=Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis EP|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2012/04/album-review-pelican-ataraxiataraxis-ep/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=13 April 2012 |accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev3 = Drowned in Sound

| rev3score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Michael|title=Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16931/reviews/4144723|work=Drowned in Sound|accessdate=January 1, 2018|archive-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102191419/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16931/reviews/4144723|url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = Exclaim!

| rev4score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=Falzon|first=Denise|title=Pelican, Ataraxia/Taraxis|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/pelican-ataraxiataraxis|work=Exclaim!|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev5 = Metal Injection

| rev5score = (positive){{cite web|last=Ulrey|first=Jeremy|title=CD Review: Pelican Ataraxia/Taraxis|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/cd-review-pelican-ataraxiataraxis|work=Metal Injection|date=18 April 2012 |accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev6 = PopMatters

| rev6score = {{rating|7|10}}{{cite web|last=Ezell|first=Brice|title=Pelican: Ataraxia/Taraxis|url=https://www.popmatters.com/156934-pelican-ataraxiataraxis-2495864590.html|work=PopMatters|date=22 April 2012 |accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

| rev7 = Thrash Hits

| rev7Score = {{Rating|5.5|6}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thrashhits.com/2012/02/ep-pelican-ataraxiataraxis/|title=EP: Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis|author=Ruth Booth|work=Thrash Hits|accessdate=March 2, 2012}}

}}

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". Alternative Press reviewer Jason Pettigrew called the EP "ambitious" and "essential". 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." 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." Brice Ezell of PopMatters called moments of the EP disappointing, but also wrote that as a whole, it is excellent and never boring.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Ataraxia

| length1 = 3:21

| title2 = Lathe Biosas

| length2 = 4:46

| title3 = Parasite Colony

| length3 = 4:41

| title4 = Taraxis

| length4 = 5:14

| total_length = 18:03

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese bonus tracks{{Cite AV media notes |title=Ataraxia/Taraxis (Japanese edition)|type=CD liner notes |others=Pelican|year=2012|publisher=Daymare Recordings |id=DYMC-159}}

| extra_column =

| title5 = An Inch Above Sand

| note5 = Live

| length5 = 3:58

| title6 = The Creeper

| note6 = Live

| length6 = 6:10

| title7 = What We All Come to Need

| note7 = Demo

| length7 = 5:22

| total_length = 33:33

}}

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

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Category:Pelican (band) albums

Category:2012 EPs

Category:Southern Lord Records EPs