I was a
little unsure what to make of this album at first, but you know, it’s grown on
me. I’ve heard quite a few instrumental
albums this year , (I say ‘instrumental’, this one has some voices but not what
I’d called singing per se – any vocals are way down in the mix and create a
wonderful sense of intrigue), and have been pretty impressed. This album is no exception.
An artist I
knew nothing about, Rites Wild is the brainchild of Australian Stacey Wilson,
Ways Of Being the debut long player after a string of several self-released EPs. It’s a relaxing almost meditative affair,
very calming, stress free, and, well, quite lovely.
So, what do
we have here? Plenty of minimal lo-fi
synth sounds for a start, drum machines lurking in the darkness and some nice
reverb and dub effects. In a lot of
ways, not unlike Peaking Lights – that as far as I’m concerned, is a huge
compliment. It’s been said that the
songs sound as though they are being ‘beamed in from beyond the black rainbow’,
and I’ll go along with that. A partially
doomy, transcendental, primitive sound that flirts with you and entices you in.
The album
strongpoint is actually its simplicity.
There are clear 80s electronic influences here – the looped drumsound of
the opening, title track tips its hat in the general direction of early A Flock
Of Seagulls. It has a simple hook, basic
to the point of almost nothingness, atmospheric (a word I want to use a lot),
indistinguishable voice ‘sounds’. If the
aim to have the vocals almost decipherable, but not quite, is intentional, then
the mix is genius. Imagine lying in a
hot, placid, bubble-bath surrounding by steam and candles and this is the
perfect soundtrack.
As a
teenager of the New-Romantic era, I’m also spotting a little Ultravox (Vienna)
on Ill Health, and, possibly even some Visage?
Remember Enigma and their chanting?
Well, there are hints of that here too.
Sublime Gregorian, chant sounding, angelesque mutterings, in the dark
distance.
On the face
of it, it’s basic stuff, but it’s layered so beautifully. Rites Wild Theme and Thieves are a joy in
their simple melodies and echoes.
Minimal Where has some exquisite dubs.
Where there
is any percussion of note, its eeriness is addictive. Detached Living fades in and contains a
ghost-like marching drum sound. Signs
has some notable effects and more ‘chanting’.
The thing
with this album is that if you like one of the tracks, you’ll like all of them
– that’s because, in a nice way, they all sound the same. Not boring, quite the opposite, they’re
interesting and relaxing. If I had one
criticism, I’d like to see the tracks merged into longer compositions. I’d even
go as far as encouraging a prog style album featuring all the tracks as one,
for the vinyl purist, two.
In summary,
a bit of a gem actually. A grower, and
one that will warrant several more listens in quick succession. Keep an eye on
Rites Wild, I have a feeling this isn't the last we’ve heard of Stacey Wilson.
Published in Louder Than War 31/12/12 - http://louderthanwar.com/rites-wild-ways-of-being-album-review/
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