Cold Cave Love Comes Close (4AD)
4/5
By: Rachel Bolland
Moving away from your area of expertise is a dangerous move for any musician. Making that decision to go in a completely new direction from the one you’re used to isit something that often ends all too easily in complete disaster. Cold Cave, however, have managed to circumvent any disaster, landing somewhere closer to triumph.
Vocalists Wesley Eisold and Caralee McElroy have clocked up some fairly heavy bands between them in their past lives. Considering the material that Give Up The Ghost and Xiu Xiu have produced in the last few years one would be forgiven for being taken aback by Love Comes Close. An album of dark, synth wonders with lyrics and vocals that maintain the artists’ hardcore roots while marrying them with music that’s so upbeat in places it’s almost pop.
Despite its poppiness, there is something darker that underlies it all. Opener ‘Cebe and Me’ showcases Eisold’s deep vocal style, reminiscent of Ian Curtis, with a mix of drones and distortion creating a wonderful messy noise to introduce the album. Eisold’s vocals contrast beautifully with those provided by McElroy later in the album, whose haunting voice is introduced on ‘Life Magazine’ with obscene levels of ecoh, adding to the ghostly effect. The blend of the two voices works perfectly, each providing the perfect antidote for the other.
However, at moments the contrast seems almost farcical. ‘The Laurels of Erotomania’ has an incredible high pitched synth part, but the vocals are so turgid that they seem to bring the whole song down with them. ‘The Trees Grew Emotions and Died’ on the other hand, blends the two together almost perfectly. Abrupt, disjointed vocals are mirrored by an unbelievably infectious electronic riff that together create one of the best tracks on the record.
Throughout the album the band achieve some very interesting things with the music, creating noises so alien that it makes you slightly stunned listening to it, leaving you to simply revel in the wonders they have created. ‘I.C.D.K.’ epitomises this, using surreal squeals and minimalist vocals to provide a euphoric end to an album that is wonderfully unique.
Artists in this article: Cold Cave
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