Whenever the weather gets warm, and my seasonal affect disorder slipsback into hibernation, I tend to want to put away my stacks ofaggressive noise discs and cuddle up to something a little morecomfortable, a little more bright. Last year around this time, thechoice was A Northern Chorus' Spirit Flags,a brilliantly pretty record that made up for a lack in dynamicism withsome gorgeous, soaring melodies born out of the shoegazer ethic. So itis not entirely by surprise that friend and labelmates Raising the Fawnare an early contender for a prime spot on the springtime soundtrack.Led by Broken Social Scene contributor John Crossingham, Raising theFawn's The North Sea is another brisk breeze of northern air toflush out the senses. The band has crafted a collection of memorablemelodies and vocalizations that dazzle in a diverse group of songs thatare sometimes comforting and sometimes unsettling. In either case, thesongs are well designed to leave a lasting impression. "Gwendolyn" isan effervescent blast with a looping, springy backbeat. The vocals arelively and vibrant, as Cunningham devastates the wistful, tender lyricswith an expertly employed falsetto. "July 23rd" is the fuzzy, dejectedballad that chronicles an inconceivable loss with such aplomb and anaffecting arrangement that simmers in the brushes as they coast acrossthe cymbals and the snare heads, sounding like the sea spray againstthe rocks. The intricacies of The North Sea elevate the subjectmatter of isolation, loneliness, the remote alienation they illustratewith imagery of derelict ships and drifting captains, so that thedarker tones are polarized and ultimately uplifting. The peakingchoruses of the title track are a perfect example of the lushness ofRaising the Fawn's sound shining through the conceptual mists they havecast around themselves. The richness of the band's sound conjures up aslightly less unhinged version of the full-band Songs:Ohia of Magnolia Electric Co..The final two tracks, which register at just over ten minutes each, areheavy hitting pieces. "Drownded" surges ahead with dense squalls ofguitar that erupt in a collision of chords and expansive post-rockelaboration. The song is a massive presence on an album that built itsfoundation on spacious melodies and singing, a true climax. "E.T.A."finds Raising the Fawn collapsing, emotionally rather thanstylistically, under the drama of their subject, sprawling out in anappropriately stirring last gasp. The North Sea is a perfectrecord for that seasonal transition, clinging to the colder thoughtsbut irrevocably enveloped in the searing yellow light and verdantgreens of spring.samples:
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