Review Summary: The Sea Cave.
Although being alone with one’s self can be a necessary and much needed release from the world, prolonged solitude is a different story entirely. Although the urge can arise to escape from the world and find a peaceful (whether metaphorical or literal) cave to settle into, the crippling loneliness and thoughts of madness eventually sets in alongside it.
The Offer is the soundtrack for this cave. Relying on sparse, dreamy instrumentation alongside very basic production; this cave seems like a peaceful place to be alone with one’s thoughts. Soothing on the surface, and simple in presentation, Yowler uses their brand of minimalism well. All of these songs sound like a solitary mind and guitar inside this cave by the water, but even on the less skeletal moments, such of the subtle swirling guitar and acoustic tings of “7 Towers”, it feels emotionally personal, through its sheer intimacy. From an aesthetic perspective, it’s pleasing; but also erringly airy, like the music itself is wasting away from the loneliness.
Maryn Jones’s voice and presentation shows how draining it can all be. With “Water’s” desperate delivery of “she will always be there”, meaning the water itself, it shows the extent of this solitude, and how the mind will cling on inanimate things for solace. In terms of how everyone else views her, Jones croons “I was just a gleam in your eye”, as hauntingly professed on “Yowler”. There is comfort in disappearing, but it is that same comfort that feels so draining. Jones if fighting for whatever life is left throughout these 8 tracks, but is noticeably losing through her almost lifeless vocal delivery that goes beyond mere loneliness.
This sea cave, call it what you may. A metaphor for depression, the only true place of peace, or a literal location; it does not matter when taken in context of how long the stay is. “The Offer” in itself is a proposition to stay in that place just a bit longer. Although peaceful on the surface, just like this track’s ethereal breakdown of majestic lulls and atmosphere, Jones says it herself: “The offer I make is a promise to stay here, but my wounds grow.”
