NEW RELEASES: Darkness reigns with Raveonettes,Timber Timbre
Is it possible for an album to be euphemistically grim and giddily sombre?
The Raveonettes dropped their latest album “Raven In The Grave” on April 5. The Danish duo’s music is firmly placed in the noisepop genre, but infused with a more modest vocal style, akin to Tennis – although they’ve obviously been doing this much longer than Tennis, as this is The Raveonettes’ fifth studio album.
Their masterful guitar work seems at once haunting and pleading, and Sune Rose Wagner’s vocal stylings, darker than on previous records with songs like “Apparitions” and “War In Heaven”, juxtaposes nicely with expressive guitar hooks and occasional well-placed guitar fuzz.
If there’s one drawback to the album, it’s that its journey seems unsure of itself at times, with the mostly dark overtones interrupted by infrequent upbeat tracks, like “Forget That You’re Young”. You may not want to listen to this album all the time, particularly in the middle of a beautiful sunny day in Edmonton, but later at night or when it’s raining, it’ll make the perfect backstop.
The Raveonettes will be performing during the June 22-25 Sled Island festival in Calgary.
Timber Timbre released their newest album “Creep On Creepin’ On” the same date as the Raveonettes. The Montreal group presents an eclectic and mellow fusion of folk and indie rock, combined with extensive use of keyboards, and the odd inclusion of noise effects and even violins and horns.
It’s not your usual fare, but this band is a collection of amazing talent, and that comes through on every track of the new album. While dark and ominous overtones are present throughout, one could just as easily see themselves listening to the album while relaxing with friends surrounded by candles.
Those two may seem directly at odds with each other, but that’s how diverse, and inclusive, this album truly is.
It sounds similar to the Raveonettes, although Timber Timbre comes at it from a folk perspective, and Raveonettes from an indie “pop” perspective. Timber Timbre does a better job in the end, though.
Timber Timbre is playing Avenue Theatre here in Edmonton on May 29. Tickets are $20 each, and available here.
Michael Senchuk also writes about new music on his own blog, New Music Michael.
