Tiny Ruins
Ceremony


4.2
excellent

Review

by Sunnyvale STAFF
April 30th, 2023 | 26 replies


Release Date: 04/28/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Back in the old folky days, the air was magic when we played

With Ceremony, Tiny Ruins have achieved what I hoped they would on their previous record, 2019’s Olympic Girls. The latter LP, buoyed by an inviting album cover and a delightful review from Sputnik’s very own Atari, absolutely intrigued me, but ultimately proved wanting in my eyes. It’s one of those releases which, while a wonderfully pleasant listen, simply lacks whatever “special sauce” is needed to stand out amid the ever-expanding number of delicate and artsy indie folk albums available for listening.

On the face of it, Ceremony is the same sort of record as its predecessor, exuding an aura of gentle radiance. It’s the type of music which is essentially impervious to the kind of (supposed) objective assessment preferred by music reviewers - a listener may think that the solo woman singing above light instrumental backdrops is really good (or not), but the metric for judging is so elemental that trying to explain your verdict is in the same ballpark as being put on the spot by some extraterrestrial asking why we humans listen to music - “uhhh, because it sounds nice?”. In the end, this one man’s opinion is that Ceremony reaches a near-perfect alchemy, achieving a rare kind of bliss (credit Neil Young’s classic “Ambulance Blues” for this review’s summary, which seems fitting here).

Opener “Dogs Dreaming” might be the best song on the entire album, but it sets the stage for the rest of the tracklist reasonably well with its simple beauty, Hollie Fullbrook’s stunning voice crowning a melodic folk backdrop, and a crisp production job which makes everything feel pristine and utterly airy. From there, it’s off to the races, if we can use that expression for an album defined by a leisurely pace and an overwhelmingly pastoral atmosphere. Many songs, like the minimal “Seafoam Green”, rely heavily on Fullbrook’s vocal inflections, but there are a few moments providing a bit more sonic variation, like the percussive rhythms which undergird “In Light Of Everything” or the (comparatively) romping blues guitar of “Dorothy Bay”. Throughout, Tiny Ruins utilize a vaguely retro vibe (‘60s-esque in spots) and, despite its laid-back nature, the album feels consistently warm and full of life - just witness the jaunty instrumentation of “Dogs Dreaming” or the light guitar chime which accompanies Fullbrook’s repetitive singing of the chorus on “Out Of Phase”.

Ceremony also seems to reflect Tiny Ruins’ New Zealand origins, with the country’s location as a couple islands in the middle of the ocean echoed by the album’s persistent lyrical concentration on the boundary of land and sea. While the album’s arrangements tend not to lend the lyrics any special prominence, they’re wonderful regardless - whether it’s a storm causing a power outage in “Earthly Things” or a sea-dwelling creature stranded as the tide recedes in closer “The Crab/Waterbaby”, the album’s soul is the melding of natural themes with philosophical ponderings on the ways to push through the rough patches which dot our lives. It’s the kind of material, both touching and mystical, which only the finest folk music can deliver satisfactorily, and Tiny Ruins have pulled it off here.

Even if it’s difficult to decipher what lightning-in-a-bottle factor lifts this album above the scores of records which aspire to pull off a similar trick, Ceremony hits the bullseye, attaining wonderful results somewhere between the musical territories plumbed by the likes of Vashti Bunyan, Jessica Pratt, and Cassandra Jenkins. After a mild album drenched in feeling, Fullbrook’s repeated croons of “I need a ceremony, I need a ritual” in the closing track not only explain the album title, but act as a potent call to refresh and restart, to push forward and begin a new act in life. In all its ethereal beauty, Ceremony is an ideal companion, whatever you’re going through right now. It’s a perfectly suited album to fill your earbuds while going on a walk, or for the next time you’re lounging on a chair in your backyard as the sun shines down. Happy listening!



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user ratings (32)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 30th 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

April has been a good to me, this is the fourth album released this month with a good chance of ending in my top 10 for the year!



Thanks to good pal Kompys for helping me with some much needed polish for this review!

Atari
Staff Reviewer
April 30th 2023


28009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

whoah, had no idea a new Tiny Ruins was on the horizon. their last album was underappreciated imo so looking forward to jamming this (especially with that Sunny 4.2)





oh shit.. I'm reading now and gotta say cheers for the mention!!

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 30th 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Thanks Atari! Curious to hear your thoughts on this one.

WatchItExplode
May 1st 2023


10516 Comments


This was very enjoyable

Bilbodabag
May 1st 2023


179 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This is real nice yeah

MiloRuggles
Staff Reviewer
May 2nd 2023


3139 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Oh yeee sunny, this also escaped my radar somehow. Stoked to listen, band is dope

budgie
May 2nd 2023


38237 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

it good

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
May 2nd 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Glad to see people digging this!

Araz
May 2nd 2023


13 Comments


I really like the cover art. It's just beautiful and intimate.

Veldin
May 3rd 2023


5408 Comments


Bro you caught me w yr Neil summary

rabidfish
May 3rd 2023


8781 Comments


you caught me w yr Neil summary [2]
This isn't like neil young, tho. I was decieved.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
May 3rd 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Sorry folks, this is indeed different than Neil Young, false advertising... But those great lyrics seemed to apply nonetheless.

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
May 4th 2023


19316 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

I'm enamored with the chord choices on Out of Phase

Atari
Staff Reviewer
May 4th 2023


28009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

this is indeed some LOVELY stuff and it feels more coherent as an album than their last one. warm and lush New Zealand indie folk ftw

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
May 4th 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Hell yeah, folks!

PotsyTater
May 5th 2023


10100 Comments


Damn, poor gals a ginger


Lovely album art, tho I’d hazard a guess this is not for me

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
May 5th 2023


19316 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

we just need one person to 5 this so the rating graph looks like a middle finger

PotsyTater
May 5th 2023


10100 Comments


Yw

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
May 5th 2023


19316 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

splorb spombicus!

dedex
Staff Reviewer
May 12th 2023


12829 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4 | Sound Off

good one Sunny. not really my thang but can't deny this is really really really well done



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