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The Brazierlights In The Window

Fall Fall Fall

Written by: BV on 30/12/2015 23:35:22

I like to think I’ve been around more than my fair share of albums over the course of these last few years. Through that time I’ve stumbled upon albums that would throw me off, either due to a bewildering nature or simply because I couldn’t get into them for whatever reason. “Fall Fall Fall” by The Brazierlights in the Window is comfortably placed at my personal pinnacle of albums that have managed to bewilder me.

Usually I’m a sucker for dreampop – there’s just something endearing about the meeting of ethereal synths, walls of cascading noise and a dreamy melodic hook. On album opener “To Stand Just Here” I’d open by saying ‘so far so good’ as most of these elements are in place. There’s just that one thing, that specific detail that I realized almost immediately would be my biggest challenge in grasping the full extent of this album. It’s the vocal work. Constantly lingering dangerously close to the border of horrible I never quite get accustomed to the special nature of Perry Macleod Jensen’s vocal work. I can’t for the life of me figure out if the usage of such characteristic vocals relates specifically to the concept of the album in general, or if this is just the way he sings. If it were the first, I’d kind of reach a point where I could accept it. - To some extent. If it is the case of the latter, then I simply can’t deal with it.

To be honest, I realize just how harsh that sounds; which is why there is also a bunch of redeeming factors present that I obviously feel it necessary to highlight. Take for instance the instrumental build-up of a track like “I Can’t Tell”. The strangely eerie and pulsating vibe works wonders and it’s also one of the tracks where the vocals are actually a perfect fit. The sporadic use of tremolo guitar, the ambience, and the majestic vibe that leads the way into a distorted climax is a moment of pure brilliance on an album I’d otherwise consider a hit and miss affair. “I Can’t Tell” is the definite highlight of the album for me, as it is the embodiment of my ideal combination of shoegaze and dreampop.

I guess I can sum up my feelings about “Fall Fall Fall” by noting that the instrumental prowess and the flair for almost orchestral arrangements is the definitive strength of The Brazierlights in the Windows. I’m not keen on the vocals and probably never will be, but for those willing and able to accept them I’d imagine the album could actually open up to be an amazing experience, specifically due to tracks like “I Can’t Tell”, “Ocean (Full of People)” and “Perfect Lovers”. However, it has sadly just left me dumbfounded. That’s not a specifically negative thing, though, as I imagine the album will remain in my thoughts for quite some time - for better or for worse.

Download: Ocean (Full of People), I Can’t Tell, While I’m Away
For the fans of: The Holydrug Couple, My Bloody Valentine, Deerhunter
Listen: Facebook

Release date 16.10.2015
Self-released