|
Back in 2005 when Nettwerk Records finally introduced the Americas
to Sweden's The Perishers I was immediately entranced by this
band's mellow Britpop sound. Their second record, Let There Be
Morning, was filled with beautifully soft pop music that nicely
countered the loud power-chord rock of their homeland contemporaries,
but in the soft quiet of The Perishers' music is an even stronger
force. The Perishers fill their songs with strong melodies and brilliant
lyricism, calling up the longing of the everyman's heart and playing
directly to it.
Their third release, Victorious, is filled with the same vein
of lower pop, softly etching its form on the memories of its listeners
as it fills the heart with joy and longing and peace and hope. The
music is reflective, almost worshipful at times, and never strays
into noisier realms that would serve to disturb the careful peace
of their music. The songs are filled with hope, as on their last record,
but there is also a deep melancholy that lies at the heart of this
band. The most perfect example is "Never Bloom Again", the
second track on the new release. The song is beautifully played with
a staccato-orchestral feel to its deliberately plodding cadence, but
the lyrics hit hard: "Our love changed, don't know why, don't
know when, but it changed/and now it's hard not to dwell in memories/now
we'll grow but we'll never bloom again/I'm sure we'll grow, but we'll
never bloom again." The band then launches into the amazing and
upbeat "Carefree", sounding more than a bit like the Trashcan
Sinatras mixed with The Fixx, but even with the quicker
tempo the music maintains the same blessed serenity. The title track,
"Victorious", is again up-tempo and immediately catchy,
but tells such an astoundingly dark yet universal story that it instantly
hits home. This is where the band has grown since their last record…
they are moving things to the next level, writing more powerful songs,
shedding a bit of their hesitation and shyness, proclaiming to the
world that they can rock as well as anyone, while keeping their lyrics
in line with the heartfelt storytelling that makes for truly timeless
music. The music on Victorious takes its own chances, pizzicato
strings in "Come Out Of The Shade", banjo on "Carefree",
and pedal steel on quite a few songs all add up to a more adventurous,
mature, and full sound than the band has previously owned. The album
ends with the excellent piano ballad "Get Well Soon", a
song that is filled with intriguing lyrics and the most beautiful
gospel-tinged melodies I've heard in years… this song truly captures
the magic of The Perishers.
Following in the footsteps of anthemic ballady Britpop bands like
the inimitable Embrace, The Perishers have put together an
amazing album filled with the kind of songs that could easily endear
them to any soul that gives them a chance. The band is having a bit
of luck getting their music out to the younger audience through the
television programs like The O.C., but anyone that is enamored of
great pop music with a soul should sit up and take notice of one of
the finest British… er, Swedish… bands around. And with
songs like "Never Bloom Again", obviously one of my favorite
songs of the year, and the gentle noise-pop of "Come Out Of The
Shade", this band is sure to appeal widely to fans of bands like
Snow Patrol, Embrace, Coldplay, and even their neighbors,
Kent.
-Embo Blake
Check out
more reviews
 Talk
Back
e-mail the chief
Like this article?
e-mail
it to a friend!
|
The
Perishers 
