Review Summary: All the good stuff
My household is awash with a constant flow of music. I make daily goals of exploring genres, subgenres and artists in particular. I constantly fall down musical rabbit holes that can be either rewarding or exhausting. My search for the exact type of music that really does that special thing, or gives that special feeling has been a life-long effort. But over the years I find that I keep digging in the same places. My love for slow tempos led me to funeral doom. My love for atmosphere led me to post-rock. Conceptual arcs and interesting themes drew me to post-metal. My love for angst and raw emotion led me to emo. (Keeping in mind of course that “emo” to an old guy like me is not My Chemical Romance.) So while these genres are all somewhat different, it is rare to hear a band incorporate these beloved facets into one body. I don’t know if Of The Vine specifically decided to incorporate these certain traits into their product. All I know is the amalgam you get is really awesome.
With that said, this record reminds me of some of my favorites. With only 6 songs spanning 45 minutes, the music comes in long waves of reverb laden guitars. The drums thud and rumble along keeping things together just enough. The plodding rhythms act as an anchor, as if the washes of sound may just float away without them. The songwriting seems linear, for the most part, and the band leave hooks alone and lean more toward crescendos to make a point. Heavy atmosphere rules the record. The music whispers it’s airy vibe softly to the listener. Even when the band turn up the volume and bring the energy and gusto they still sound calming. This record is a moody, atmospheric, wash of post-rock beauty.
Interestingly enough, this is their second full length, but the first recording to incorporate vocals. While the vocals are sporadic at best, they do wonders for the band. While I thoroughly enjoyed 2015’s “East-the-Water” I didn’t spend nearly as much time with it. (I will highly recommend it for the stereo while reading, however, so feel free to slap it into your instrumental playlist. You won’t regret hearing it side by side with We Lost The Sea and Caspian.) But here with “Left Alone”, the vocals seem to help the music the same way the percussion does. It seems to bring a particular focus amidst the ambiance. The trudging doom-like rhythms underneath the dreamscape washes of warm guitars favor the wavering crooning. The vocals are mixed very modestly as well, and only command attention when needed. It seems as if great thought was put into their addition, and they play very nicely.
The album starts in full funeral doom form. Open hihat splashes break the space between huge chords, while a washy leads and atmosphere spread the wall of sound around you. The drums build and we fall into a dark void with just twinkling guitars and vocal whispers. Dynamically, this record is at times impossibly quiet, and also huge. “I’m Morrissey, I’m Dead” brings us a shot of emo goodness, which at times reminds me a bit of American Football, circa 2019. The pleading vocals and stark composition of “Messed It Up” lull and soothe, but the despair inherent in the words do the opposite. The push and pull is really interesting. “Exmoore” and “Forelorn” are absolutely huge, with stunning vocals, huge dynamic changes and gorgeous guitar work. The vocals on the final track are unsettling and strange at first, but the song takes their direction, and evolves. We seem to finish the adventure miles below the surface in a desolate, but beautiful vacuum. This record really plays with space and dynamics with wonderful results.
It’s hard being as picky as I am. I like certain stuff and I can’t really explain why. It’s not that I don’t like a ton of other styles of music, but the different aspects on display here by Of The Vine just really get me going. It’s blended together so nicely that I get to enjoy things I love from 4 or 5 genres all at once. While listening along I laughed to myself because I kept thinking about how I like to eat my Thanksgiving dinner. I try to get a little of everything on my fork for that incredible combo-bite. It’s not always the perfect combo, so you have to experiment a little. Clearly here, Of The Vine knew exactly what to put on that fork for me.
