Mothers
When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired


4.0
excellent

Review

by owl beanie EMERITUS
June 27th, 2017 | 36 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: that's all, folks

No matter how hard she tries to convince you otherwise, Kristine Leschper is a starkly honest human being. How could she not be? The way her voice quivers and lays bare her observations throughout When You Walk… doesn’t leave her intentions much room to hide, and this honesty suits the record nicely, even when it becomes violent or confronting. With her humanity candid and her grievances aired, Leschper sits herself down next to us; sobbing on the shoulder of her last resort.

But this isn’t a hopelessly cold record, nor is it an unfriendly one. It’s autumnal. These songs rise from all the hands buried deep in the pockets of pea-coats, from the crackling of yellowed leaves under so many feet, and from the near-tangible crispness in the air at first light. The central lyric in Hold Your Own Hand graciously undermines the song title with the admission: “I think I can learn to love”, and with it, the band turns skyward (or at least stops staring at their feet) – situating themselves near enough to optimism to keep them breathing for another song.

It’s my favourite song here, and for the most part, the rest of the record transpires similarly -- like bedroom confessionals with the window ajar, escaping the bindings of Leschper’s journal and drifting their way into other people’s. It’s a lovely little paradox, that these songs are all-encompassing in their intimacy, written for the one but held dear by the many.

There’s a necessary niche for this kind of soft-spoken folk-rock record, because behind every apologetic lyric and every exposed nerve ending, there’s an acknowledgement that these feelings and behaviours are universal: “This is how it often goes”, concedes Lockjaw, with Leschper’s very Jordaan Mason-like intonation leaning snugly into a spritely, quietly determined tangle of arpeggios. The music here is transformative – positioning this lyric as an affirming statement and not a pessimistic one.

I think that’s the point of this album. It’s a series of songs solely dedicated to studying the roots of an emotional turmoil so as to move past it. That’s why this record is more autumnal than it is wintry: it’s fragile but not broken, struggling but not dejected. I say again, that the niche Mothers occupy is a necessary one, because these records tell us that our mortality is watered by progression, and our problems are as deciduous as the leaves in autumn.

In other words: It Hurts Until It Doesn’t.



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user ratings (56)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

another short write-up for an album that should've already had one

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
June 27th 2017


4053 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Wish it was a tad longer, but these are some of your warmest descriptions, and I love it. Huge props, amazing album, too.

Conmaniac
June 27th 2017


27704 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

cool lil write up man but I'm gonna ghost neg it and not say why (;



you think id dig this tho?

theBoneyKing
June 27th 2017


24673 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Great review for a great little album, this definitely deserved a lot more attention than it got last year.

verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

doesn't count as a ghost neg if you admit it beforehand con ahahahaha

it's up your alley i think! i reckon you'll consider it really really beautiful or really really boring, luck of the draw i guess

Conmaniac
June 27th 2017


27704 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

damn yeah you caught me...guess I have to pos it now huh? and cool I'll peep this sometime today possibly

theBoneyKing
June 27th 2017


24673 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Con I reckon this'd be a 3-3.5 for you, though idk how well you get along with female folk so maybe it could be higher.

The intimacy is definitely what makes this. Hold Your Own Hand is also my favorite track!

verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks Boney!

congratulations, con, you played yourself

verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Also where are my fucking manners, thanks Con and Blush. you're both great

Chortles
June 27th 2017


21494 Comments


great review, as always :~) now, show me some manners and thank me

verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

ay chortles thanks champion, join the discord

clavier
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


1206 Comments


Lovely review as always

verdant
Emeritus
June 27th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks so much

guitarded_chuck
June 27th 2017


18070 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

nice review, thanks for bringing this to my attention i really like it

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
June 27th 2017


8416 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

good review man, you beat me to it. i laaaav this

verdant
Emeritus
June 28th 2017


2505 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks guys! really glad to hear that chuck

BlushfulHippocrene
Staff Reviewer
October 10th 2017


4053 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This album is so lovely...

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
November 3rd 2017


8416 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

6/5 track agreed

Conmaniac
November 3rd 2017


27704 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

jammin that song now

theBoneyKing
November 3rd 2017


24673 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

This album is like Julien Baker but not boring



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