Drowner – You’re Beautiful, I Forgive You (2013) review
Drowner ‘You’re Beautiful, I Forgive You’ (Saint Marie,
2013)
2013)
The debut full-length from this Houston quartet builds on
their earlier EP to cement their place amongst the best of the Nu-gaze crop of
guitar-based post-rockers. The wall of guitars atmospherics blend perfectly
with vocalist Anna Bouchard’s ephemeral embellishments which add a romantic
aura to the treated guitar effects. Fans of The Cure will find familiar
signposts amid Darren Emanuel’s cascading, melodic guitar lines, particularly
on tracks like “On Bright Days” and “Stay With Me”, which could easily have
been Wish or Disintegration outtakes.
their earlier EP to cement their place amongst the best of the Nu-gaze crop of
guitar-based post-rockers. The wall of guitars atmospherics blend perfectly
with vocalist Anna Bouchard’s ephemeral embellishments which add a romantic
aura to the treated guitar effects. Fans of The Cure will find familiar
signposts amid Darren Emanuel’s cascading, melodic guitar lines, particularly
on tracks like “On Bright Days” and “Stay With Me”, which could easily have
been Wish or Disintegration outtakes.
“Automatic Zen” nicely separates the loud/soft dynamics to
highlight Bouchard’s heart-melting vocals, while the thousand-yard-stare of
“Mirror” effectively captures the band’s sensitive side by effectively
introducing forlorn piano interludes. It’s here that the evocative album title
elicits a “light bulb” moment – the dichotomy of beautiful, occasionally
whispered vocals weaving around shards-of-glass guitars is perfectly
represented by the merciful resignation of meeting someone whose beauty has
gotten them further than their personality.
highlight Bouchard’s heart-melting vocals, while the thousand-yard-stare of
“Mirror” effectively captures the band’s sensitive side by effectively
introducing forlorn piano interludes. It’s here that the evocative album title
elicits a “light bulb” moment – the dichotomy of beautiful, occasionally
whispered vocals weaving around shards-of-glass guitars is perfectly
represented by the merciful resignation of meeting someone whose beauty has
gotten them further than their personality.
Side two is full of late night melancholia like “You” and
the quiet, dreamy “Not There”, wherein the band’s floating, Cocteau Twins’
influences come to the fore, particularly their Harold Budd collaboration, The
Moon and The Melodies. “Our Last Day” may be the year’s most tearjerking
breakup song, and Bouchard pulls out all the stops with her yearning pleas
battling a wall of glistening guitar noise that metaphorically keep pushing her
away.
the quiet, dreamy “Not There”, wherein the band’s floating, Cocteau Twins’
influences come to the fore, particularly their Harold Budd collaboration, The
Moon and The Melodies. “Our Last Day” may be the year’s most tearjerking
breakup song, and Bouchard pulls out all the stops with her yearning pleas
battling a wall of glistening guitar noise that metaphorically keep pushing her
away.
The band is not afraid to venture into soft and tender love
song territory, checking the head-bashing guitar onslaughts at the door for
cascading waterfall moments like “Fear of Falling” and “Shadow” which
demonstrate that bombastic noise may not be the best way into your lover’s heart!
song territory, checking the head-bashing guitar onslaughts at the door for
cascading waterfall moments like “Fear of Falling” and “Shadow” which
demonstrate that bombastic noise may not be the best way into your lover’s heart!
Saint Marie have quietly, yet quickly emerged as one of the
year’s finest purveyors of Nu-gaze, post rock wonderfulness, introducing us to
new bands and sounds that effectively build upon their 80s and 90s influences
to offer a breath of fresh air amidst all that American Idol chatter. Side Two
of You’re Beautiful, I Forgive You may be their best collection of music yet,
and the entire disk is one of the year’s finest.
year’s finest purveyors of Nu-gaze, post rock wonderfulness, introducing us to
new bands and sounds that effectively build upon their 80s and 90s influences
to offer a breath of fresh air amidst all that American Idol chatter. Side Two
of You’re Beautiful, I Forgive You may be their best collection of music yet,
and the entire disk is one of the year’s finest.
Review made by Jeff Penczak/2013
© Copyright http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013
