If Fugazi did not have Ian MacKaye's straight edge past haunting them, and had done drugs while writing 'Steady Diet of Nothing" perhaps the result would not be unlike what unfolds on this album. This is a California band by way of Baltimore, which might be what preserves some of the integrity here. This is not to say they are a Fugazi tribute band by any means, the guitar jangle more like the Velvet Underground at times. The vocals have an expressive manner that reminds me of Shudder to Think though with none of the dramatic yodeling. "Bad Lands" has more of a drone than the first song, but is effective in it's own right.
"Bell of Renewal" owes more to bands from the 80s like REM, with how they lock into a hypnotic jangle of guitar and ride it out. The riffs are more nuanced on "Your True Face" . There is hints of an ambling country feel, though the vocals emotes from a dramatically darker place. This guy's phrasing is impressive as he puts a great deal of passion into each line. He almost is what tips the balance in a heavier direction for the verses of "Monument" where he has a throaty roar that is answered by the call and response of backup vocals , to create a pirate feel. Not sure if that was what they were going for, but that is what I got. The song also wanders off to a droning melodic place as the guitar continues to ring out.
"Be Still" finds them soaring out into even more spacious emotional landscapes. It floats as much as it drones. The vocals having a defined melody keep it from just drifting off. "Illusion of Time" rides similar cloud formations as the Cure does at times. The vocals bellow and bleat, dipping around the strum of the guitars. The last song does not wander far from where they have already explored. There is that odd middle ground between emo , post-rock and shoe-gaze that bands like Mineral and the Gloria Record also traversed. I will give this album a 10, as they are doing their own thing and doing it well while drawing from some of my favorite sounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment