Their fourth album sees Grails continuing to go from strength to strength. Even after last year's excellent Black Tar Prophecies collection I am completely gobsmacked at how far Grails have come on in such a short space of time. The title of the album is particularly apt as the group have shed all unnecessary fat from their sound. There is not a misplaced note or tone on this album, this definitely sounds like Grails have sold their souls at the crossroads in exchange for untold amounts of talent.
The playing on Burning Off Impurities is impressive but without any showiness. Each of the four members plays their part with restraint, letting it rip when it suits the piece and keeping silent when required. The Middle Eastern atmospheres that have crept into their work in recent years are as sublime as ever. "Silk Rd" finds Grails mixing western and eastern influences seamlessly to create the album's centrepiece and what I feel is best piece of music from their entire career. As soon as it finishes I want to dive right back into it again but self-restraint (just about) kicks in and I move on to the rest of the album which is just as deserving of my ears as "Silk Rd."
What sticks out about Burning Off Impurities is the sheer amount of styles and influences that Grails have effortlessly adopted. "Drawn Curtains" is brimming with the same melancholy (and a very similar violin) that Dirty Three have built their whole career out of. "Outer Banks" covers a huge range of different Krautrock influences, although the Faust inspiration shines through like a beacon, no doubt due to one-time Faust member Steven Wray Lobdell sharing in the production work. All the music is captured beautifully—the mix is just right and there is a good balance between the different aspects of the compositions. It never sounds like an instrument is dominating the piece, it all sounds very natural but still retaining enough punch to stop my attention from wandering.
I am still amazed at Grails' speedy transformation from a bunch of guys I could take or leave to a group that I eagerly anticipate more music by. Their upward trajectory is showing no signs of levelling off so as much as I am enjoying this release, I await to see where they go from here. There is so much packed into this disc however, that even if I have to wait a few years I do not think I will be burned out with Burning Off Impurities.
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