Warpaint is the type of band that likes to reward the most patient of music fans. Both their songs and career develop at a much slower pace than many of their contemporaries. It has been nearly four years since the Los Angeles quartet released their well-regarded debut The Fool, an album of surprising maturity and grace. Next week the band will at long last be releasing their self-titled follow up. With so few releases under their belt, Warpaint is still in the nascent stages of their sonic development. On their latest effort, the band seeks to create an experience that is much more expansive than their previous work.
On this album, Warpaint bolster their trademark airy grooves with layers of auxiliary percussion, synthesizers, and lush pianos to create an atmosphere that has much more depth than anything the band has done before. Warpaint benefits immensely from the expertise of legendary producer Flood (who has worked with groups like U2, New Order, and The Smashing Pumpkins) as well as the contribution of frequent Radiohead producer, Nigel Godrich, who has mixing credits on the record. All 51 minutes of this album have a cohesive feel, each layer and texture sounds well placed and meaningful. The band manages to create a sound that is as subdued as it is compelling, a rare accomplishment in rock music.
The opening song “Keep It Healthy,” a slithering track which revolves around a swirling guitar pattern that is punctuated by busy percussion, is a glimpse of the high points that the album has in store. Emily Kokal's ghostly vocals are powerful throughout, this despite the fact that her level of intensity seems to fit a shower setting rather than a studio. Warpaint drifts into electronic territory with the songs “Hi” and “Biggy,” the latter featuring a simmering synth line that underpins Kokal's barely there vocals beautifully. The back half of Warpaint struggles slightly to keep the momentum established in the first 25 minutes, nonetheless it still contains some gems like “CC,” an ominous, trance-like song that falls more in line with the band's previous work.
A common thread throughout the album is the general lack of rigidness in the music. Warpaint's music meanders, slowly creating an intense, but never epic aural experience. The band frequently avoids writing songs that have big chorus payoffs, instead opting for structures that progress linearly and cycle through a series of motifs. While this formula may turn off some, to those who are willing to embrace the patience and nuanced listening that Warpaint demands, the results can be quite stunning.
Grade: B+
0 comments
Post a Comment