The Accidental - There Were Wolves
(Full Time Hobby)
http://www.theaccidental.co.uk/
Founder of folk-inspired The Memory Band, Stephen Cracknell, folktronica group Tunng's front man Sam Genders, The Bicycle Thieves' Hannah Caughlin and singer/songwriter Liam Bailey have gotten together, almost accidentally, to form, well, The Accidental. It seems appropriate that their first LP, There Were Wolves, comes out during a spring that only wants to bring rain.
The quartet put together the album on a computer, so although it is folksy and very mellow, the only real instruments on it are the members' voices. But before you discard them merely for this, it's important to note that it does not sound electronic at all. Opening track Knock Knock plays with the voices of Genders and Caughlin to produce an eerie, stimulating harmony with an entrancing melodic loop that you have to hear until the end. This is followed by the creepy Wolves, which paints a chilling image of hungry wolves surrounding an aloof girl. The track is metaphorical, but even in its softness, there is an impending sense of doom throughout that nonetheless doesn't deter from its soothing sound. Jaw Of A Whale has a Dave Matthews / Jack Johnson feel to it that draws on nature imageries, while Illuminated Red seems perfect for a rainy day's walk by an otherwise blooming garden.
Indeed the whole album seems like it should be listened to while sitting in a park, be it a gloomy day or a day of rest to get away from city noises. Listen for too long though and you might find yourself dozing off. After a long day of walking in the rain carrying bags through crowded streets on a caffeine high, There Were Wolves chilled me out… and eventually made me want to go to sleep. The mark of collaboration is evident and the album has a distinctive feel to it throughout all the tracks. The motivational Time And Space closes off the album with an unexpected cheerful twist and a more upbeat tempo. The band's coming together might have been accidental, but the album is a very well thought out, cohesive, beautiful piece of art.
Christina Cromeyer Dieke |
