ARTIST:
WASHED OUT


ALBUM:
WITHIN AND WITHOUT


KEY TRACKS:
BEFORE
AMOR FATI
SOFT
FAR AWAY


"chasing all your thoughts, you know that you'll be all right in time"


This is ironically the first time I've listened to an album where the band name really, I mean really, represents the music they produce.  There is a truly a sound quality from frontman Ernest Greene that really is bleached....or washed out!  

In the weeks leading up to this review, I was really looking forward to hearing this album.  Not because of it's acclaim, but because Ernest Greene seems like such a nice guy!  I saw Washed Out at a festival last year and unfortunately they were plagued by technical issues.  However, Washed Out was considerate enough to play as many sets as they could (while apologizing incessantly) and just handled the situation really well.  They ended up playing their songs acoustically, which for an electric-chillwave group is virtually impossible.  However, that's what they did and they still sounded excellent.    


Anyways, upon first listen I really enjoyed the electronics in their full effect.  Greene has an interesting way of blending his voice into the music so that it sounds more like an additional instrument instead of lead vocals.  It's quite nice throughout the album but there were times where I was left wanting to hear some stronger notes from Greene.  But such is the essence of chill wave music, you don't hear other similar artists like Neon Indian, Electric President, etc. howling out their vocals.


Also another inevitable characteristic of this genre is that sometimes all the songs kind of blur together into a bland pulp.  Unfortunately Washed out does at times embody this characteristic.  However, Greene distinguishes himself at times with subtle effects to bring the flavor back into the music.  


The case in point is my favorite track on the album:  Before.  Why this particular track?  Hell they all sound the same so why even one track in particular?  It's all for that little voice manipulation at at 0:43.  It brings life to the track in a series of beats, bass, and transient vocals.  This to me is the freshest track in the mix.


Amor Fati is the darling of the album though and is what has been most highly ranked from critics like SPIN, Stereogum, and Pitchfork.  It's a solid track, but I think that there are better ones on the album, personally.  This is evident in the track Soft.  I really like the backing instrumentals in this one.  It's one of the mildest on the album and is a good backing music for productivity.    


Lastly the track Far Away really caught my attention because for me it's the only song that actually suggests an emotion other than relaxation (if you can even call that an emotion...).  There's a melancholy here that isn't anywhere else on the album.  And although I'm not a huge fan of sadness in music, I really enjoyed hearing some diversity in this genre.  


Overall, this is not the last we'll hear of Ernest Greene and certainly not this new "chill wave" genre.  With all those Neon Indians, Toro Y Mois, Memory Tapes, and everyone in between I think chill wave may be the next (cringe!) dub step.  However if this is the case, I wholeheartedly welcome it.  I'm a fan of chill wave over dub step ANY day.  

LISTEN:  BEFORE  |  AMOR FATI  |  SOFT  |  FAR AWAY

NEXT WEEK:  FOSTER THE PEOPLE  |  TORCHES

    





   

ARTIST:

FOUR TET

ALBUM:

THERE IS LOVE IN YOU

KEY TRACKS:

SHE JUST LIKES TO FIGHT

CIRCLING

SING

I usually put a lyric above that particularly stood out to me on the album...but this is  my first review of an instrumental album.  Also, Four Tet marks the first review I've done without knowing anything about the artist.  So I dove into this album with absolutely no expectations and what I found was an interesting juxtaposition of "video game" electrics and robotic like beats.  Normally I would never describe an album as 'futuristic' but this one certainly seems this way.

London born, Keiran Hebden is the cerebral DJ behind the all the pulsing electronica in this album.  Hebden's influences are heavily reliant on the ambient style pioneered by Aphex Twin in the 90's.  

But there is a certain softness in Four Tet's music that you don't quite find in Aphex Twin.  This is apparent in the album's opening track which starts nicely with looping vocals over the gradual buzz of electronics.   But the moment track two starts, that serene mood is completely gone and what remains are sounds you find in video games.  Upon hearing the second track "Circling" I'm strangely reminded of those larger than life RPG's like Final Fantasy, Zelda, and let's not forget Tron .  Seriously.  This guy could transition to making science fiction/fantasy soundtracks seamlessly.  

Another standout track for me is the 'blatting' techno in "Sing".  Again I'm reminded of the video game genre because it sounds almost like a 'midi' track (anyone remember those?).  And despite the constant bleeping, Four Tet's compositions don't ever come across as abrasive.  Ironically, they are relaxing -- in a way. 


Hands down the best track of the album is the closer:  "She Just Likes to Fight" which ironically sounds nothing like its title.  It's a slower, sensitive track that sounds eerily like Broken Social Scene.  Jangling guitars and slow, moody synths take over and smooth over the jagged edges leftover from the rowdier tracks.  It's the perfect way to end the album.  


So the verdict?  Well, definitely not my favorite album, but certainly a nice change from what I'm used to.  I think ambient music has it's place but it's a genre of music that is still somewhat foreign to me.


LISTEN:  SHE JUST LIKES TO FIGHT  |  SING  |  CIRCLING

NEXT WEEK:  DISCOVERY | LP