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The Autumns make music that’s right up my alley. Their
combination of lush guitar textures and subtle pop sensibility
make The Autumns next in line to sit on the throne that has
been occupied by bands like Cocteau Twins, Red House
Painters and Departure Lounge, among others. It’s
no wonder that Twin Simon Raymonde found the band intriguing
enough to produce their debut LP and to use them as a backing
band for his own solo meanderings. While the band gears up
for a new album release later in the year (more on that to
come in the next couple of months), Canadian label Absolom
Recordings have issued two unique EPs displaying the range
of The Autumns sound.
Le Carillon is a wonderful collection of ethereal
pop tunes with a decidedly ‘50’s slant. I’m not talking about
a rockabilly feel, but a soothing updated stroll through the
terrain of good ol’ "hold your lover close and dance"
tunes. "Thieves In Blue" begins with a shimmering
guitar line over a slight swing infected beat. The guitars
aren’t as swirly and claustrophobic as the Twins made famous,
instead relying on tone for the effect. One can just imagine
a guy with a pompadour playing a big old fat Gretch. This
isn’t "throwback" music though. Matthew Kelly’s
airy and versatile voice floats effortlessly above the
sparse landscape without attempting to mimic the past. Dreamy
is the ultimate word for this tune. Their keen sense of melody
and pop structure make "Quite" a fantastic number.
Kelly’s voice defines the melody, while the guitars and a
subtle, yet commanding, drum progression help the song move
along. The song also uses a perfectly harmonized backing vocal
and lush violin to fill out the mix. Definitely the poppiest
tune on the record. The title to "Slow Kiss" describes
the next track to a tee. Kelly again ebbs and flows between
a smooth croon and an emotional higher-register without forcing
it. Again, Kelly and Frankie Koroshec’s guitar lines
weave and entwine themselves around another slow swing inspired
groove held down by the rhythm section. Grab your girl and
hold her for all she’s worth, I say. Rounding out this first
EP is "She Whispers The Winter Snow", another tune
emphasizing their pop trademarks. The chorus refrain sends
tingles up my spine every time I hear it—I think it’s that
combination of Kelly’s emotive voice and those tastefully
roaming guitars. Le Carillon is an EP that is over
far too soon.
The second EP, Covers, is a nifty little limited edition
CD-3 that is part of a "subscription based series of
releases" from Absolom Recordings. This rare little gem
contains obscure covers that display other angles of this
diverse, yet focused band. First to be covered are Lift
To Experience and their tune "With The World Behind".
I’m not familiar with the original to offer a side by side
comparison. This tune sets the standard for the entire EP
with a lonely sounding acoustic guitar and subdued delivery.
Kelly’s impassioned voice wraps itself around every word,
creating a tension that is absent from a lot of tempered acoustic
tunes. If you thought that Morrissey piled a bunch
of emotion and sorrow in the masterwork "Please, Please,
Please Let Me Get What I Want", you have a pleasant surprise
in this version. They slow the tune down a bit more, and Kelly’s
desperate tone takes the song to another level of longing.
The guitar leads are reverb laden and soar effortlessly over
the piano that leads the tune along. Backing vocals from an
un-listed female vocalist only bolster his yearning reading
of the lyrics. Superb! Underground songwriting hero Nick
Drake is given his due on their reading of "Time
Of No Reply". The mood of the EP holds steadfast as spacey
keyboard and distant vocals lightly shade wistful acoustic
guitar. Drums appear on this cover, and they lead the charge
into a noise-infected climax that is used for emphasis instead
of annoyance. To conclude this collection, the Twin Peaks
number "Just You And I" comes oozing out of your
speakers. Sounding as if it could have come from the Le
Carillon sessions, The Autumns bring back that Fifties
slow-dance sound with the slow waltz beat along with those
twinkling guitars. The bit of slide they use for emphasis
is the perfect match to the mood and is just enough—any more
would have ruined it. This EP is primed for late-night listening
with your favorite bottle of wine, candles and your closest
gal.
These two disks are musts for anyone into slow ethereal groove
music. Being one of my favorite genres, they spoke immediately
to me and shot right to the heart of the shoegazer that still
lurks within. If the tracks on these disks are any indication
of what lies ahead on the full-length record, then you will
be hearing more of The Autumns in the future.
— tom topkoff
Track Listings:
Le Carillon
- Thieves In Blue
- Quite
- Slow Kiss
- She Whispers The Winter Snow
Covers
- With The World Behind
- Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
- Time Of No Reply
- Just You And I
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