Review Summary: Cause it's a small town...and it misses you my love
The Veils are one of
those bands. They sneak up on you when you don't expect it, bouncing around in your head even after what is considered to be uneventful listens. On the surface, the music is simple; it's somewhat conventional and not ground-breaking to say the least, but the more attention it gets, the more it gives off. It could be the sweeping melodies, the uncanny ability for it to become personal, or the guest instrumentation however, there is something more to The Veils that what has been mentioned. That factor comes in the form of lead singer Finn Andrews. Andrews will never be featured on your typical “greatest rock singers” list, for he lacks the tremendous vocal ability that many have wasted. Like vocalists Jeff Buckley and John Frusciante, Andrews finds power in passion. Ranging from his delicate whisper to a shrieking yell, but yet remaining as melodic and haunting as before. Andrew's presence is felt on each quiver of his voice, and it becomes virtually impossible to not realize how sincere and affectionate the music truly is.
“The Runaway Found” is the oldest child of New Zealand's most criminally ignored band. Although better things are sure to come in with the band's following releases, Andrews and company don't seemed to have wasted any time asserting themselves in their rookie effort. “The Runaway Found” essentially exhibits what The Veils are all about in just ten tracks clocking in at under an hour. Along with Andrew's powerful lyrics and exemplary vocals, “The Runaway Found” is crafted so intricately with strings, pianos, and your indispensable instrumentation in such a way that is complements Andrews almost to a tee. Even in the record's most conventional instrumental situations such as
Guiding Light, The Veils throw in backing singers which only elevate the track.
As much pop-appeal that is found in the music of The Veils, it never gets in the way of the emotion and the musicianship of the album. Opener
The Wild Son is a soaring piece; never ceasing to be both catching and meaningful. “Darling I need you far more than I say, none of my fears are as dear to me.” Quite possibly the record's most appealing moment is that of
The Tide that Left and Never Came Back, in which exemplifies the momentum of the album with its coercive melody and addictive pace. For each of these hook-driven instants however, are harrowing and sensitive ballads. In a track that seems to have everything,
Lavinia utilizes the backing singers and piano to an astronomical level, only furthering what is some of Andrew's best songwriting. “That I don't want to live in your side, though the rose is vermillion. And I find it so hard to survive, without when within you.”
Released in 2004, “The Runaway Found” is almost even more haunting due to the events that transpired a year later in New Orleans. In the opening seconds of the song titled
The Valleys of New Orleans, Andrews softly delivers, “Someday the walls will tremble with terrible flames here ‘Til the mouth of some hurricane sweeps them away.” As if it was written after Hurricane Katrina had occurred,
The Valleys of New Orleans is just as compelling and beautiful as anything featured on this particular record. Relying entirely on Andrews' fervent vocals, this piano-laden ballad only furthers the inspired nature of the album.
“The Runaway Found” is an extraordinary collection of songs, that is simply mind-blowing almost in its entirety. Its heartwarming possibilities are seemingly endless, just taking the introduction guitars in
The Leavers Song, the orchestration mastery of
The Nowhere Man, and the mounting force of
Vicious Traditions as examples. The Veils seemed to have reached a more than sufficient plateau in their freshman effort, leaving it hard to believe that better things were to come. Despite its instant accessibility, “The Runaway Found” is one of those rare types that provides the listener with something more spectacular each listen.
Recommended Tracks:
The Wild Son
Lavinia
The Tide that Left and Never Came Back
The Valleys of New Orleans
Vicious Traditions
The Nowhere Man
