Through The Windowpane - Guillemots Album Review
Photo by:David Robinson
Album Review
Fortune favours the brave. Guillemots win.
Daring Brummie Fyfe Dangerfield and international cohorts boldly go where few bands would venture, with the possible exception of Aussie outfit The Sleepy Jackson. Through The Windowpane is nothing short of a sonic masterpiece – adventurous, exquisite, eloquent, melodic, and yes, even pompous in parts, though it never borders on the experimental. This isn’t just any old album; this is art, full of confidence which is both breathtaking and staggering. It’s the unashamed confidence that impresses most. Unfairly dubbed ‘eccentrics’, Guillemots bring together differing musical experiences from Brazil – Mc LorD maGrAO on guitar, Canada – Aristazabal Hawkes on bass and the Scottish highlands – Greig Stewart on drums, they have created a multi-sonic opus that includes haunting ballads – the simple Blue Would Still Be Blue being the most effective (showcasing Dangerfield’s vocal mastery) to thumping complex beats such as the title track, and sizzling 60’s Motownesque Trains To Brazil. Also key to its undeniable beauty is Dangerfield’s cultured and flexible falsetto. Production is another highlight, from the whopping 11 minutes 40 seconds of epic closer Sao Paulo with its complex structure and explosive mid -section blasts and cacophonous crescendo, where they’ve adopted the Spectorish wall of sound, also found on We’re Here, and joyous Annie, Let’s Not Wait. On the mellower end, they’ve written heartfelt lyrics, some a bit baffling to the heart wrenching and atmospheric If The World Ends which would fit a reprise to the orchestral opener Little Bear.
Through The Windowpane is outstanding in every department, showing the imaginative prowess of a band with a dazzling future.
The only foreseeable problem Guillemots have, is difficult album number two – until then, enjoy their awesome debut – a timeless wonder.
Gigs
- Sat 30th Aug 2008
- Fri 05th Sep 2008
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