Not every band seems to come with full working knowledge of musical dynamics. Many are just happy to throw all their ideas, sonic kitchen sink and all, at the listener and hope that style rather than substance wins the day. Of course, sometimes it works but usually only temporarily before the next fashion or fad hoves into view.
To make music that lasts, it is about style AND substance, about the musical impact AS WELL AS sonic subtlety, about working with ever-shifting dynamics, of ebbs and flows, peaks and troughs. And this is something that Lacewing has by the ton.
Flaming Gold Piano demonstrates this from the onset, blending pace and poise into a sort of experimental, ambient pop. Sea Waltz flits and dances seductively, Attic Rooms balances subtle lulls with angular, raw-edged guitar highs and Garden City broods and bristles towards a glorious conclusion.
It’s a great album, one that uses recognisable musical building blocks to build wonderfully unique sonic architecture, and that is about as much as you can ask of a band really.
