Esmerine, "Aurora"

Esmerine are an outfit for the end of the world: their songs arepowerful meditations on loss, pain, and dread. At their core are BeckieFoon (A Silver Mt. Zion) and Bruce Cawdron (Godspeed You Black Emperor!and Set Fire to Flames). Their second album, Aurora,is the black smoke that arises from the rubble. Here, bleak orchestralmovements slowly build to breathtaking conclusions, such as on theopener "Quelques Mots Pleins D'Ombre," where pulsating cellos gatherforce and speed, culminating in a few brief moments of controlled furyon top of a barrage of drums, bass, and piano.
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The nearly 17 minute"Histories Repeating as One Thousand Hearts Mend" marches along slowlyto a steady swell of hubcaps, marimba, and cello. "Why She SwallowsBullets and Stones" is a beautiful piano piece that breaks up the darkovertones of the previous three pieces and provides much neededbreathing room from the often dark and melancholic tone that aboundshere. This is perhaps Esmerine's greatest liability. While they aremasterful in their ability to evoke a nefarious atmosphere from theirsongs, all the melancholy and anxiety can become a little suffocating,but I give credit where credit is due. Esmerine are capable of inducinga range of clear, striking images: barren landscapes, war-torn cities,and quiet desperation. As the final bent notes on "Le Rire de L'Ange"fade away, I can almost see the mushroom cloud from my bedroom window.

samples:

• Quelques Mots Pleins D'Ombre
• Histories Repeating as One Thousand Hearts Mend
• Why She Swallows Bullets and Stones

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