Lawn |
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There's something about Backspace that gives me the impression that Groningen is suddenly the centre of a post-rock wonderland. It is an intriguing album, and while essentially guitar-based, it is laced with just enough added textures of instrumentation and vocal harmonies to make it stand out above the average. Tackling mathematical guitar parts and mixing them together with almost desolate aural sequences, Lawn seem determined to take this opportunity to prove that they have what it takes to become an integral part of Dutch rock culture.
'Tide' opens up proceedings strongly, offering a lovely balance between straight-ahead rock, and a level of dissonance with dimensions and layers. Starting off with power, it ebbs and flows beautifully as it leads you through its story, and as far as opening tracks goes, this is just right because it makes you want to throw yourself into the rest of the album.
At times, 'Silverscreen' carries a similar vibe, with a really enjoyable rhythm being pushed out. What's most pleasing, though, is that not only are volume dynamics used to catch your attention, but there are some really smart melody twists taking place too.
Not everything following is quite as punchy. Tracks such as 'Winter' and 'Backspace' show a slower, slightly more intense style, where the arpeggios flow over each other, sometimes sending out a crescendo of noise from your speakers and sometimes relying on the bare minimum to carry across emotion. The song structures show a lot of careful calculation, and at times, the style isn't too distant from the route that The Gathering have taken.
Of course, it also helps to have a special guest like Anneke van Giersbergen to help spread your name and open you to a new audience, so with the aforementioned comparison, fans of The Gathering shouldn't be disappointed in this album. With a song as good as 'Fix', though, no-one need be. It has energy bursting out of it and is a pivotal track sitting at number two. It would have been a solid opener as well, but at the same time it may have cheapened the album in that case, like hedging too many bets on the guest artist. As it is, it has a cracking chorus, wonderful harmonies, and great guitar work which ring out little echoes of Tool. Even without the guest vocals it would be a key track, but with them it is definitely boosted; the voice of van Giersbergen almost becoming one with the male vocals, neither dominating, just balanced as one to great effect.
Overall, the entire performance feels like it's completely controlled. There is no wildness, and even when the band are pushing the limits of the songs, you can sense there is a still an element of control: every vibration of a guitar string or snap of a snare feeling purposeful and definite. The music never spills out as brash or careless, and it showcases a quality and depth in their songwriting and musicianship which is really what defines Backspace as a success. Loose rock and roll this is not, but if you're seeking some well written post-rock, then you can't go far wrong with this.
Steven McCarron
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