Review Summary: Death? Nay - a guitar life!
The death of guitar music has long been lamented by those who see it as a symbol of rebellion and individualism. But to mourn its passing is to miss the point entirely - the evolution of music is inevitable and necessary. Out of the ashes of traditional guitar-based rock, a new genre emerged: math rock. This subgenre, characterized by its intricate time signatures and technical guitar work, breathed new life into the instrument. Alas, the founding lions of the genre - Don Caballero and Tera Melos - have roared their last for math, and at the forefront of this movement today is the lynxian Covet, a band whose album "Catharsis" showcases the power and beauty of the guitar in all its glory.
Like a guitar hero strumming her way through the fires and flames of true yearning, Yvette Young transforms the guitar into a vehicle for emotional expression, with each note imbued with a sense of passion and intensity. Covet's music is more than just technical proficiency. It is a celebration of the beauty and power of music itself. The intricate melodies and rhythms that the band weaves together create a seamless tapestry of sound that is both complex and harmonious. Each track is full of intricate melodies and rhythms, like a spider weaving a web to catch its prey. But at points it does go hungry! See opener "coronal", which is an unexpected barrage of heavy shoegaze. This may limit the potential for a wider audience to appreciate the band's talent and musicianship, thanks to that genre's tendency to rely on atmospheric textures and effect, which overshadow the intricate and technical guitar work that is at the heart of Covet's sound. As a result, listeners who are not fans of the shoegaze style may find themselves struggling to engage with the music. But even though Catharsis borrows from a creatively stagnant genre on that one song (and also the capricious "smolder") and waylay themselves alongside non-sequiturs elsewhere, that's just Covet being Covet. There is still plenty to enjoy on the album, from the beautiful "lovespell" to the playful "vanquish". In the end, the death of guitar music is not a tragedy, but a necessary step in the evolution of music. Math rock, and bands like Covet, represent the future of the guitar: Walter Benjamin's concept of the "aura" suggests that an object's authenticity and uniqueness is tied to its history and the experiences of those who have encountered it. Yvette Young is one of the last true friendly faces offering a glimmer of hope for the guitar's aura to be revitalized.
