Manchester Orchestra
The Valley of Vision


3.4
great

Review

by Rowan5215 EMERITUS
March 11th, 2023 | 75 replies


Release Date: 03/10/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The fire in the rear view.

It's incorrect to say that Manchester Orchestra 'got softer' over time, like they packed up their electric guitars and started sitting around campfires singing folk ditties after 2009. More accurate to say they converted their sound into widescreen, a 4k transfer that broadened their horizons beyond what Andy Hull's widening vocal range and some chugging guitars could encompass. Hull's tales of drifters, killers and broken homes, dotted here and there with fragments of his real life and family, have remained the focus even as the band settled on a horizon-hazed, dreamy version of indie rock that isn't afraid to bust out the riffs every now and again.

Yet even by the band's excellent, if admittedly sedate recent pacing, The Valley of Vision is positively withdrawn. This EP acts as a postlude to The Million Masks of God, a gentle coda that's even more reserved and tranquil than its parent album. Hull's beautiful harmonies are more in the forefront than they've been since Swiss Army Man, the band mostly present to conjure up a simple backdrop, which isn't as much of a problem with a stunning performance from the singer on "Rear View". And where The Million Masks of God's blood-and-thunder fury bubbled under the surface of soft folk and lightly patterned electronics, a simmering tension largely borne out of the death of Robert McDowell's father, The Valley of Vision is more like a meditation on how to keep living after tragedy. It's a touch too sedate for this lofty goal, settling for a combination between Copeland's Blushing and Thrice's Water EP which is pretty, well-written and generally fine. Highlight cut "Quietly" is not coincidentally the most dynamic, beginning with an atmospheric swirl that recalls the spatial audio sounds of Bad Books III before exploding into a top-quality full-band bridge. "Letting Go" is the most Copeland-esque cut with a looping heavily treated vocal propelling the song, while the slowburn-explosion "Rear View" ranks as one of the band's finest ever closers.

Manchester Orchestra are too deep into a career too consistently good to ever be in danger of falling off a cliff; instead the real danger that's lurking for the band is stagnation, as they drill down further on a sound they've already arguably mastered to results that are never objectionable but rarely inspirational. Who knows what the band's next move is - a downscale perhaps, taking that 4k quality and filtering it back down to a faded sepia VHS, or becoming even bolder with the album-length concepts they've been coyly toying with, turning that sound into a full-blown theatre production. Whatever they do, it will most likely be pleasant and never objectionable, but here's to hoping that roaring fire that once guided them through a black mile to the surface can find a little more fuel.



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user ratings (150)
3.5
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
Rowan5215
Emeritus
March 11th 2023


48028 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4

this is fine, wish they'd put No Rule on here



https://manchesterorchestramusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-valley-of-vision

Sowing
Moderator
March 11th 2023


44637 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

There's a lot of truth to this line:

"Manchester Orchestra are too deep into a career too consistently good to ever be in danger of falling off a cliff; instead the real danger that's lurking for the band is stagnation, as they drill down further on a sound they've already arguably mastered to results that are never objectionable but rarely inspirational."

I'm still hyped about the EP, and the fact that Losing You Again has grown on me in a huge way only ensures this will never sink below a 4 for me. I'm also glad you highlighted the same two songs from this that I think are the best: Quietly and Rear View. I edited No Rule into a playlist with this EP and it indeed helps with the pacing. Pinpoint accurate review even if I enjoy this slightly more.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
March 11th 2023


6222 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Excellent review, Rowan!



As far as the EP goes, my expectations weren't too high given I'm a casual fan of the band and the general reception seemed muted. That said, I'm really enjoying this, the mood hits for me and I don't find any of the songs weak.

sonictheplumber
March 11th 2023


17592 Comments


new mahavishnu orchestra :D

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
March 11th 2023


6222 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Manchester Orchestra goes jazz fusion... I'd listen to that

Sowing
Moderator
March 11th 2023


44637 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Just listened to this again and I like it even more. I think I'm just a hopeless fanboy lol.



Another fun thing I might do next is work this into MMOG. After all, these songs were all from the same session and even showed up as hidden tracks on the MMOG vinyl packaging that only showed up when reflected in front of a mirror. Plus, there's tons of callbacks on this EP. It all feels so interconnected.

MoM
March 11th 2023


5994 Comments


Good review! Was nooot into this release, but I’m looking forward to whatever they do next all the same.

Sowing
Moderator
March 11th 2023


44637 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Next album is allegedly a return to heaviness

MoM
March 11th 2023


5994 Comments


That might be cool! I love the majority of this band’s stuff, with Black Mile being my favorite and the one I’ve got the most personal attachment to, so I’ve got faith they’ll continue to do what they want with their sound. If i like it, or don’t, it’s cool they’re still trucking

Sowing
Moderator
March 11th 2023


44637 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Agreed. Heavier could be great, or it could be like COPE. Best of both worlds would be the intensity of COPE with the songwriting chops and passion/emotion of Black Mile. I think I'd melt.

MoM
March 11th 2023


5994 Comments


Nice! I’d be stoked on that for sure.

I particularly like when they get kinda mystical or spiritual juxtaposed with personal, like with The Grocery or Apprehension or Simple Math or Hot One or Jimmy, etc. So, I’d like a couple like that if possible.

The songs here, I’d probably like in different contexts, where they’re more calculated for effect in their placement, rather than being cut from the previous album’s sessions and put together.

Sowing
Moderator
March 11th 2023


44637 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

They're definitely at their best when combining the spiritual with the personal. That's why The Silence is their best song. I'd be all for more stuff like the tracks you mentioned too. I think they sort of pull that vibe off here as well, although the lyrics are too nondescript to have a devastating impact.

Rowan5215
Emeritus
March 11th 2023


48028 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4

I really hope that proposed heavy album is more like After the Scripture and less like anything on Cope lmao



definitely thinking about making a playlist that loses the weakest songs on MMOG for the best on this. the songs all flow into one another though which makes it kinda tricky

Colton
March 11th 2023


15861 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

this really is the corniest band in the world

burneroftheSell
March 11th 2023


58 Comments


tall order, but they're defs an honourable (widescreen 4k magic will do that to artistic vision)

will maybe hear this

Colton
March 11th 2023


15861 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

forgot to log off the alt eh

burneroftheSell
March 11th 2023


58 Comments


the alt is in session, there is no way i'm subscribing to [this would-be] Netflix [band's thread] on my main

Colton
March 11th 2023


15861 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

my Henry St review will retire your main for good

Rowan5215
Emeritus
March 12th 2023


48028 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4

honoured you would create an alt just to shitpost an opinion that will problem spread out over 5 pages that I will entirely disregard

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
March 12th 2023


19400 Comments


i wonder if this is a 3.5 just like everything else i've ever heard by this band



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