The story of how Carta?s debut came to be is nearly as interesting as the music itself. Carta has existed in various incarnations since 2002, yet the recording of this album did not begin until 2005. Completed in 2006, this album represents not only the work of nine different musicians, but also a group hiatus and subsequent reformation with new members. At any rate, Carta seems to have triumphed in the face of adversity. Truly, the results of all of the time and effort seem quite positive, as ?The Glass Bottom Boat? delivers some beautiful, melodic post-rock.

The overall vibe of the album would certainly have to be described as mellow. Each of the tracks has a distinctly quiet feel, yet the overall sound is still very full and rich. A wide assortment of instruments were included in the recording and at different times guitar, piano, organ, trumpet, and cello can be heard. ?South Circular? is a standout track from the disc that puts several of these sounds to good use. The track features two organ parts, lead and back-up guitar, bass, and drums. At the opening of the song, one organ lays down a steady note while another plays lead. At the same time, one guitar mimics the organ lead and another plays a repeated arpeggio. The result is a deep and intoxicating mix of both musical structures and sounds.

While most of the album is instrumental, vocals do make an appearance on the title track. Coming towards the end of the disc, they really pop up like a surprise. At this point, the music has established itself as more than satisfactory without any vocals and the late addition just seems like a bit too much. The song itself is not bad, it just that the tracks surrounding it are so much better by comparison. Really, a lot of the instrumental depth is pushed to the side to make way for this lyrical segment.

Regardless of any missteps, ?The Glass Bottom Boat? is still an excellent piece of (largely) instrumental music with deep layers of sound and complex arrangements. Carta gives the listener a lot of good reasons to take notice of their music and this album will no doubt continue to unfold with each visit. 8/10 -- Matt Blackall (21 August, 2007)