Review Summary: what do country, dream pop and a textile factory have in common?
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Everything is simple ‘til it’s not”. It’s the kind of lyric that would sound rather clumsy in the hands of most bands. The same way a drawing of a plum with an umbilical cord would be rather unlikely to grace the cover of one of the best dream pop records of the past few years. Thankfully, Widowspeak are a different breed. The Brooklyn duo have always been understated in their excellence, crafting loveable hooks from the simplest of melodies and the quietest of whispers.
The Jacket is no exception to this rule: closely following 2020’s magnificently relaxing
Plum, this brand new album continues to explore the band’s newfound fondness of Americana and that which some may like to refer to as
cosmic dream country.
Rather than fully retreading the excellently lush waters of yesteryear,
The Jacket infuses a healthy dose of ambition into Widowspeak’s sound. What started out as a concept album telling the story of a textile factory worker’s experiences entering (and exiting) a local band turned into a record that, in spite of abandoning this particular concept, achieves admirable cohesion through focusing on dim auras and emotions from the
wild industrial west. It’s this exact atmosphere that renders simplistic statements like “
everything is simple ‘til it’s not” so enjoyable: they’re not meant to be particularly profound or shocking, but rather exude the same energy as an old, wistful man reflecting on his life. Opening cut ‘While You Wait’ pulls off a similar trick, as Molly Hamilton’s soothingly direct voice seems to repeat every small service business’ slogan: “
While you wait / We’ll have it done today”. It grounds
The Jacket; it allows the music to remain firmly human while adding gently ethereal touches that accentuate the atmosphere rather than define it.
As enjoyable as Widowspeak’s understated qualities are - ‘The Jacket’ takes the cake by crafting a catchy hook out of a simple “
no-no-no” - the band truly flourish when allowing their music space to breathe and let loose. Album highlight ‘The Drive’ repurposes some of the darker tones of 2017’s
Expect the Best to fit the group’s new country-tinged ventures, culminating in a wonderfully hazy track with a delightfully psychedelic outro. Similarly, ‘Sleeper’ closes the album on a high note, putting forth the album’s most explicitly
comfortable track. As the original storyline was supposed to culminate with the worker-turned-rockstar returning to the familiarity of his old factory job, Hamilton’s closing questions of
How can I help you? / What do you need? seem to denote pure solace. Its subtle organ melody underscores a quiet indie cut that manages to perfectly summarise
The Jacket; calming yet adventurous, heavenly yet grounded, and mostly comfortable.
At the end of the day, Widowspeak are comfortable. Six albums in, the duo know their niche: moreover, they have perfected their niche.
The Jacket is an excellent foray into dream pop, country, indie, music, textiles, life, the stratosphere.
Everything is simple ‘til it’s not. Makes sense, right?
