Static Patterns and Souvenirs in Bloomington, MN

This album is sparse, reflective, and terribly pretty -- and that's after just one or two minutes. The opening
"Understanding Heavy Metal, Pts. 1-2"
features singer
Mark Rolfe
taking a delicate melody and adding airy vocals that hover over the track perfectly.
Sharon Cohen
adds harmonies and you have a gorgeous track that seems to glide and soar at the same time. Think of
Wilco
meets
the Delgados
while inspired by
David Bowie
's
Heroes
and you might get a good idea of what is at play here. Horns enter the track but are far from a sticking point, giving it more body. The second half has some
electronic
blips and bleeps, but they also aren't a distraction.
"Homerun"
is a dirge with a duet from the two singers, making bands like
Cowboy Junkies
seem uptempo by comparison.
Cohen
's high notes bring to mind
Sigur Ros
, but she doesn't go over the top. The first real gem comes in the form of
"The Last Mosquito Fight of Summer,"
as
Lorna
craft the song around their assets -- lovely vocal performances and simple arrangements with melodies that are heavenly -- as it ventures into
the Cure
circa
Bloodflowers
territory.
"Remarkable Things"
sounds as if the bandmembers have been listening to mountain music, but they perform the song at a snail's pace. The pedal steel is excellent thanks to
Marc Ransley
's deft abilities.
"Swans"
might be too rich, lush, or textured for some, but the
lullaby
harmonies and melancholic tone are what make it work so well. The same can be inferred from
"Will You Still Love Me Yesterday?,"
a play on the
Shirelles
title. This haunting style continues during the barren and claustrophobic
"Be Forever,"
which brings to mind
Marianne Faithfull
,
Luna
, or
PJ Harvey
Dance Hall at Louse Point
. One song that comes across as run of the mill has to be
"Snow Song."
wrap the record up as smoothly and gracefully as it opened with
"Illuminations,"
a track that sounds like a cross between
Knife in the Water
and
Thee Heavenly Music Association
. This record is pretty almost to a fault. ~ Jason MacNeil