Morrissey, Felt, and the Go-Betweens all show up for a cup of tea at some point throughout Cats on Fire’s second full-length, Our Temperance Movement, but none stay and chat for too long. This is simply the music they grew up on, and for once within the stream of new artists it has nothing to do with image or commercial appeal. For this familiarity to negatively impact the band’s work, though, would be an absolute crime. Their familiarity to certain jangle-pop legends are evident by now, we get the point. Familiarly clawing jangle-pop is their trade, led by a witty vocalist that sounds part operatic and part maudlin balladeer in his somber and quivering delivery. Cats on Fire – Our Temperance MovementĬats on Fire take listeners back to mid-’80s Britain. Cox’s vocals take on their lovingly indistinguishable feel, generating hooks as the slow plow of muddled acoustics push forth an elegant melody that slowly unfolds into gushing melodic bliss.Ītlas Sound – Walkabout (with Noah Lennox)ģ8. “An Orchid” has an eerie air to it with heavy doses of acoustic reverb and clashing percussion. As far as the rest of Logos goes, Cox continues to marvel listeners with his raw throwback approach.
’60s AM radio meets the lovechild of “Good Vibrations” and Animal Collective’s “Grass” and the result is profoundly effective. Cox and Lennox are some of the most inventive songwriters of the past few years, so to see them avoid previous ideals and stereotypes to create an absolutely stunning pop song is highly commendable. It is absolutely gorgeous as one could imagine, ironically enough serving as one of the most pop-oriented efforts from both careers thus far. The album’s center stroke of genius, “Walkabout”, finds the dreamed-about collaboration of Bradford Cox and Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox come to fruition. Although he would have obviously preferred it never to leak, comparing a rough draft with Cox’s final version simply shines a bright light on his accompanist abilities. When the final version was released, its fascinating appeal was not a surprise. An early leak of Logos had Cox fuming, saying the leak was nowhere near the final product. Clearly he has an assortment of ideas, but his devotion to cohesiveness on each of his releases is inarguable. Bradford’s most useful talent, in my opinion, is his ability to tame his ambition. The result is always something creatively willing and unpredictable, whether it involves glistening post-punk, screeching experimental-rock, or lush ambient electroncia. Easily one of the most interesting songwriters of the decade, Cox’s erratic and stream-of-conscious tendencies bring out a rare breed of musician that is neither concerned by commercial appeal nor structural fundamentalism. The Leisure Society – A Short Weekend Begins with LongingĪnother regular on this annual list, Bradford Cox has wowed visitors with both of his projects (Atlas Sound and Deerhunter) in the past few years. The Leisure Society – Love’s Enormous Wings The Leisure Society fit nicely on both occasions, even if they tend to be partial to the latter. On The Sleeper, all of these forms are showcased in an accessible and memorable manner that should have listeners coming back for more, whether they are in the middle of a workday or just beginning a weekend.
Well, let us not forget Hemming’s stellar songwriting as well. The track perfectly summarizes how The Leisure Society are able to craft beautiful gems using little more than conventional structures and highly melodic instrumentation. Considering that it is so beautiful though, it is hard to complain. The melody tends to repeat itself throughout the entire track, with the instrumental additions of a new string arrangement or woodwind accompaniment establishing the subtle melodic alterations. The bare effort of a ukulele eventually finds itself complemented by an upright bass, woodwinds, and sparkling keys, paving the way for the song’s excellent development. Abrasiveness is not found on one note throughout the 11 tracks on their debuting The Sleeper, showcasing the meticulous craft of Hemming’s songwriting. Whether they sing of yearning for the days when “life was so much simpler” in the ukulele-driven “Love’s Enormous Wings” or the overemphasis on assigned tasks in “A Short Weekend Begins With Longing”, it is evident that this British collective value enjoyment through the simple things in life, those in which people often overlook because of demanding schedules and occupational conformity. Simplicity is a concept that The Leisure Society appear fond of, both in their charming songwriting and lyrical content. Through glimpses of luxurious chamber-pop and melodic folk, The Leisure Society present listeners with a ceaselessly soothing style that is made memorable by lead vocalist Nick Hemming’s delicate voice and naturally infectious songwriting.
0 kommentar(er)
