A surprise release, the 10th overall and second LP of 2023 after First Two Pages of Frankenstein by Matt Berninger, the Dessner brothers and co, minimalist, darkly existential, vivid, poetic and engagingly nihilistic. Many of the songs were written at the same time, and the album’s cover echoes the former. The title track, with guest vocalist Phoebe Bridgers is particularly so, minimalist and fatalistic with gentle electronica, and Berninger’s deep voice intoning lines such as: “Losing my momentum, losing my mind / Not enough to mention, not enough time,” and Bridgers replying in the refrain: “I can't even say what it's about / All I am is shreds of doubt.” It’s all draped in beautiful melancholy, as also in the beats and sparse piano of Weird Goodbyes with guest Bon Iver. “Memorize the bathwater, memorize the air/ There'll come a time I'll wanna know I was here … I don't know why I don't try harder / I feel like throwing towels into water.” Other key tracks include Alphabet City, Deep End (Paul’s In Pieces), which has another water/drowning metaphor, Crumble, Space Invader, and Hornets. A deep, dark chasm of a record with 12 tracks at almost an hour long, but one full of riches if you listen with the metaphorical torch turned on. Out on 4AD.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: