Elfin Saddle - Ringing for the Begin Again
Rating
RIYL
BeirutBjörk
Sigur Rós
Sunset Rubdown
Release Date
05/19/2009
Label
Constellation RecordsTracklist
1. The Bringer2. Running Sheep
3. Hammer Song
4. Sakura
5. Muskeg Parade
6. The Living Light
7. The Procession
8. Temple Daughter
9. The Ocean
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Elfin Saddle’s name seems oddly fitting for a band of their nature. It has an air of fantasy around it, although like the band itself, it is essentially organic. An elfin saddle is a type of mushroom that upon maturation develops a saddle-shaped cap. Throughout Ringing for the Begin Again, Elfin Saddle matures into a mystical, atmospheric group unlike anything you have heard before, constantly evolving their sound. It’s hard not to judge this band before listening to the record. Everything about this band screams pretentiousness and self-indulgence, and while the band doesn’t exactly avoid these descriptions, if you are able to remove yourself a bit, there is an awarding listen waiting for you beneath it all.
“The Bringer” is a peculiar choice for an album opener. It is one of the moodiest songs on the album, and it takes some time to get used to its brooding quality. Notes seemingly fall out of nowhere as Jordan McKenzie somberly moans before being accompanied by Emi Honda. It is actually a great song, but I question its placement before the more inviting “Running Sheep” which is more upbeat and telling of the characteristics of the band. “Running Sheep”, like half of the songs on the record, is sung entirely in Japanese. This may turn off some listeners but the melody coming from Emi is too intrinsically beautiful and would clearly not have sounded so if sung in English.
“Hammer Song” is where the group really captured my attention with a perfect execution of a folksy yet experimental song. Jordan’s lyrics of, “I am a hammer. I’ll smash it in. Smash it in,” are powerful and memorable while encased by shakers, a tuba, and an acoustic guitar swiftly charging through chords. It is the most accessible track on the album but also the most triumphant. The group keeps things interesting by utilizing both vocalists and a variety of instruments which includes violin, trumpet, accordion, ukulele, banjo, contrabass, tuba, xylophone, and bells. Longer tracks such as “The Living Light” and “The Ocean” tend to lose focus and become unhinged at some point. Although mesmerizing vocals and continually changing dynamics keep things interesting, it makes it hard to consider coming back for multiple listens.
It can sometimes be a challenge to review an album that can be described as a combination of indie rock, neo-folk, and world music. Elfin Saddle does a good job of distancing themselves from other groups who can be described in such a way. They do falter in areas where they let their style run away from them and engage in long winded experimentation that could only make sense to the members of the band itself. The fascinating instances where it culminates in a perfect mixture of accessibility and wild instrumentation make the entire experience worth it. There is much promise contained within this album for the band’s future, and anyone looking for atmospheric music that challenges conventional songwriting will find something here to take pleasure in.
--Dave Spak
Comments
San Jose, CA
Good review, band sounds really interesting.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy