Both “Mantelpeace” the stunning 2020 debut and “Fairly Carefree” two years later were quite enjoyable and very well received. The introduction of guitarist Rindert Bul as a guest on the first album was a very good move, as his work with fellow Utrecht band Novatia was exemplary. Lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brian de Graeve certainly made a name for himself with the band Silhouette with five albums before closing shop in 2017 and there is little doubt he is the main composer here, leading a technically sound crew of talented musicians. Presenting 8 tracks clocking in at 50 minutes and with lovely artwork, let’s get into the meat of the matter (even if you are a vegetarian, if you see what I mean) and see where this stands up there with the previous works.
Good omen when you lead off with the longest track (a somewhat more prevalent strategy lately), as “Living the Dream” goes well beyond the 8 minute plus time frame. It certainly starts off with a sultry acoustic entrance, before Marjolein de Graeve introduces the melody. My esteemed colleague Kev Rowland pointed out that he felt that Brian’s pitch at certain moments when he takes over the microphone in the mid-section, had a slight tonal conflict that is hard to erase or pretend that its not there. I must confess that while the entire vocal package was a tad underpowered, I was not distracted into highlighting any major deficiency. That being said, the instrumental presentation is effectively attractive, the pugnacious bass in particular weaving seamlessly within the rhythmic canal.
A trio of tracks could have been a suite, as they are stylistically similar. On “Eternal Sleep”, the de Graeve duo relay each other vocally and do a great job, though a larger contrast seems to come from her instead of him, not necessarily a bad thing but Brian’s falsetto is oddly thin and unconvincing. In the end, the two voices are just too close to each other in my opinion, and this is corroborated throughout the proceedings. The massive keyboard backdrop injects some phenomenal bravado; the twin guitars scratches appropriately raging and the Jos Uffing pulse buoyant. “Out of Mind” remains in the same cruise control mode, the flute break from Marjolein a welcome addition, as the dual vocals intertwine. The key here is “Today’s Cloud” , at first a more fragile and romantic diversion with elegant phrasings and a secluded melody, followed by a sweet axe solo shooting into the heart, as the mid-section explodes into a bombastic elevation that hits the spot. Really good track this.
A couple of nearly 8-minute pieces each are on the card next, “The Sixth Pamphlet” being a more homogenous construction where the players get to loosen up and dally in exhilarating interventions. Though the choir-like vocal edifice has plenty of merit, the high notes again come across as if missing undefined oomph. Perhaps it’s just me wishing for more depth, grit and emotion. The follow-up “Never Feel This Way Again” has a more pastoral setting interfaced with huge choir flareups, an urgent main melodic line that is utterly pleasing, and brash guitar phrasings that add a wallop that is heartfelt. Christophe Rapenne’s piano does wonders in keeping a strong sense of elegance in the middle segment, with both Rindert Bul and second guitarist Jos de Jong unleashing a few blistering leads.
Marjolein takes over on “Follow Me Home”, a light melodic ballad that has a homey feel, unpretentious filigree, wrapped in folky simplicity until the spirited dual fretboards light up the road ahead. Quite enjoyed this one. “The Great Ricochet” closes the door with a final extended piece, that may ultimately decide the merits of this third release. As with the rest of the album, the main characteristics are truly first-rate, the talent being firmly in place yet there is an uncanny sense of something indefinable missing, a puzzling enigma that happens to me on very rare occasions.
A very good album, though somehow lacking the WOW factor, a notch below the previous excellence, possibly requiring a few more revisits before too long, in order to see if it was just my imagination.
3.5 itches