Blue States - 'The Soundings' (Memphis Industries)
4/5
By: Clara Burtenshaw
Cinematic pop has never seen musical Technicolor quite like this.
Sumptuous, and charged with a grandeur surpassed only by the scale and intricacies of orchestral movements, 'The Soundings' more than has the makings of a classic.
This, the third album under the Blue States moniker sees Dragazi's solo project mutate into a trio, enlisting the vocal and songwriting talent of Chris Carr and drummer Jon Chandler to create this maelstrom of musical warmth, richness and eddying evocation.
Recalling moments of British Sea Power's eccentricity and thematic pop, Bowie vocals, haunting Hope of the States melodies in 'Alright Today', and eighties hotshots Talk Talk and House of Love, the effect of this instrumental pop laden with lush layers is positively dizzying. Church-organs, harpsichords and samples of muffled-speech add a certain eclecticism to the States' bittersweet nostalgia, but the surging victory of brass and orchestra in 'Sad Song' is in a way its swansong, and every last string should be succulently savoured.
Artists in this article: Blue States
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