Review Summary: Haunting. Repetitive. Many delicate moments, that perhaps are a bit too hard for the listener to locate.
Stolen Violin is the solo project of Jordan Ireland. He was once in the sublime indie band The Middle East who went their separate ways in 2011.
Temperate Touch, Tropical Tears feels like the diary of a lost soul. The album itself almost can't be heard through the muddy production, perhaps this is an in built defensive mechanism designed to hide the true messages lying in wait at the bottom of this LP’s aching heart.
The album in part seems to be a love story. You feel an immense distance between Jordan and his love. I mean literal distance. Fleeting moments of near connection, severed by inaction. These are the sort of longing impressions I get from Temperate Touch, Tropical Tears. There are delicate pianos that often complement the lead guitar, layered vocals that cast a shadow of sadness and string sections that give the album a haunting, olden day sort of feel.
Romance at the Petrol Station is truly the sweet spot on this album. There are many elements working together in this track and all feel necessary to contribute to a unique sound. It seems to capture the essence of the album, without getting too bogged down in it's own melancholy.
Overall the album for me is too gloomy, and listening to it I feel weighed down. There are some moments on this LP though where I feel Stolen Violin is in touch with true beauty, and I'm grateful for that.
