SOWNBONES
helpless


3.5
great

Review

by Josh D. USER (12 Reviews)
January 16th, 2022 | 18 replies


Release Date: 2022 | Tracklist

Review Summary: sad?

Taking a side-step from fronting Holy Fawn, SOWNBONES enters the minimal post-something fray with a sparkling, somber affair. Equal parts warm and contemplative, helpless lives in an ether of lo-fi noise and guitar textures. Various percussive toys and noisemakers pepper beds of synth and reverb, often employing enough glockenspiel to make Johnny Greenwood jealous.

The album is a tidy seven tracks that balances, as the SOWNBONES Bandcamp page states, the joyful with the melancholic. Vocal and spoken word clips occasionally interrupt the fuzz of the recording room. Helpless is at all times dreamy, and there are moods to be had in a song like “grin” with its deep-breath calm acoustic folkish nature (and nature sounds) that bursts out with pounding and pointillistic percussion. Or the follow-up, aptly titled “warmth”, with dense synths that oscillate between your left and right while restrained bass and drums serve as reluctant locomotion. Your eyes are invited to remain closed throughout.

helpless is standing in a wide field, the air has a sharp chill and modest wind, and all the peculiar sounds and all the conflicting feelings it inspires are part of the experience.



Recent reviews by this author
Minnie Riperton Adventures In ParadiseHidden Orchestra Night Walks
Irepress Sol Eye Sea IMouse On The Keys Tres
Planning for Burial Below the HouseSusumu Yokota Symbol
user ratings (18)
3.5
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Josh D.
January 16th 2022


17845 Comments


Minimalist review for a minimalist album.

https://sownbones.bandcamp.com/album/helpless

Purpl3Spartan
January 16th 2022


8534 Comments


I didn’t know this was a side project. Interesting! I enjoyed the listen.

Nice review!

Josh D.
January 16th 2022


17845 Comments


Funnily enough, I'm vaguely aware of HF but never listened : |

Guess I'll rectify that.

efp123
January 17th 2022


249 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I love stuff like this, and glad you reviewed it. I dig Holy Fawn a lot too, but like this more

Demon of the Fall
January 17th 2022


33647 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Pos-worthy review, succinct but appropriate!



The subject matter ain't too shabby either, definitely something I can appreciate. Cool.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
January 17th 2022


5854 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Nice review for an under-the-radar album, pos'd.



Will check this!

Uzumaki
January 18th 2022


4471 Comments


Nice, def have to check because of the Holy Fawn link. Their "Death Spells" album is gorgeous.

asanisimasa
January 19th 2022


163 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Listened to this on a whim and it struck a stronger chord with me than i expected

neekafat
Staff Reviewer
January 19th 2022


26081 Comments


nice album cover (;

Coldday
January 19th 2022


72 Comments


I don't know what this has to do with Holy Fawn.

I'd rather compare this to Hammock, a later version of Tides of Man, Sigur Ros, Jonsi & Alex, Library Tapes and so on. At least Holy Fawn does have rythm and real guitar work.

Nevertheless, a very calm and minimalistic album with (i think) very cool soundscapes.

Demon of the Fall
January 19th 2022


33647 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I can definitely hear touches of Sigur Ros here and there.



This may be growing on me, a very solid ambient release with decent atmosphere and splashes of colour to mix things up. Admittedly it could've maybe done with being fleshed out a little more, there really isn't much material here to chew on / get lost in.

Josh D.
January 19th 2022


17845 Comments


"I don't know what this has to do with Holy Fawn"

This is a member of the band.

ChoccyPhilly
January 19th 2022


13626 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It was enjoyable but didn't leave too much of a lasting impression. Not sure if it's closer to a 3 or a 3.5 hmm

Feather
January 19th 2022


10111 Comments


Listened to this and definitely not my thing, interesting share though!

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
January 19th 2022


5854 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

The piano (I think) on Secret Home reminds me a lot of The National's Fake Empire

Josh D.
January 20th 2022


17845 Comments


I guess I can see that, I get more of a "Death Dream" by Frightened Rabbit if you ignore the background notes. Incidentally, that album was produced by Aaron Dessner.

DungeonBoy
January 20th 2022


9696 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

that fact that this has any relation to Holy Fawn bumps it up to a mandatory check for me. Thanks for posting bro. Also check out Death Spells by Holy Fawn.



When you have a chance, watch this video for Dark Stone, you don't want to miss these dudes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb7TEn8079I



Feather
January 20th 2022


10111 Comments


Just found out I have tickets to see Holy Fawn live! (opening for Deafheaven)

I am gunna give them a spin because this didn't do much for me.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy