Electrelane - 'The Power Out' (Too Pure)
5/5
By: Thomas Hannan
This is many things - an eye-opener, a drain on the human soul, an exhilarating masterpiece, a collection of demoralising sadness and a handwritten invitation to a night out. Difficult for one record to live up to so much, you say. This one however, just about perfects it all.
For some bewildering reason, Electrelane have rarely used voice before, preferring to enchant with soothing keyboards and guitar meanderings (only 'Love Builds Up' from this ilk remains on 'The Power Out'). But friends, this is a crime, as vocally it's absolutely stunning. Hey, maybe before they were just shy - but one listen to the complex choral layers on a brilliant 'The Valleys' is enough to disprove the idea that they might not have sung previously because they just weren't any good at it.
If you must, you can move to it, although be prepared to join a floor full of people dancing their hearts out whilst still looking somewhat despondent. 'The Power Out', their second LP and first with Steve Albini on engineering duty, is completely saturated with melancholy. There's indeed little to raise a smile (save a few cute vocal ticks), apart from the sheer beauty of the entire record. Nonetheless, a marvellous 'On Parade' and pounding keyboards of 'Only One Thing Is Needed' should prompt some intriguing involuntary, rhythmic limb movements.
As has been the way with their sound for a considerable time, it's easy to pick out where some of the compositions could have developed more from lengthy sessions of improvisation rather than carefully crafted songwriting, but this matters little - there's a dream-like touch to Electrelane that assures whatever spasmodic musical feat they encounter next will soon be doused in some of the most glorious melodies in recent memory. It is, for instance, doubtful whether the underlying wander of the guitar solo on an aching 'Birds' is played the same each time, but the beauty of the entire composition lies in such simple honesty. Lyrics aren't cryptic or conceited, just a plaintive call to a loved one that can't fail to tug a few heart-strings; 'I want to see you, more than anything, I miss you all day and every day...'
Soppy buggers, then - or at least they would be if that was done in some diva-like howl, but when it's sung in a voice that sounds as if its about to break with sadness throughout an entire record, it works. Rarely are albums so deftly personal without sounding self-important or plain stupid, but 'The Power Out' is neither of those.
The tone lightens, still without all gloom completely lifting, with the angelic falsetto of 'Enter Laughing' showcasing a mastery of all things tuneful, before it immediately darkens with the sultry husk of 'This Deed'. It's such variety of styles coupled with the fact that you can find something to positively adore amidst each one that make the record so strong - you wouldn't want to pick simply one of these tracks to introduce Electrelane to a friend, but simply compel them to take the time to get entirely lost in what is an incredible collection.
Masterfully, 'The Power Out' is heart-warming without offering any solutions to its own woe. The fact it exists will be comfort enough for now. You can love this record, because, in a lonely world, it sounds sincere enough to love you back.
Artists in this article: Electrelane
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