Brookville’s co-founder Andy Chase (of Ivy fame) has brought together the likes of Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) to perform on another breathtaking collection of songs, with the follow up to 2003’s critically acclaimed ‘Wonderfully Nothing’ album, ‘Life In The Shade’.
Bringing elements of country, folk, electronica and pop under a blanket of considered arrangement and good instrumentation; this is storytelling at its best. A thoughtful and relaxing album to listen too, there is a dream like haze floating throughout ‘Life In The Shade’ that drags you under and smoothers you almost from the off.
The light piano, acoustic guitar and soft vocal stylings of Chase in ‘Blue Morning’ combined with his bittersweet yet hopeful and heartfelt lyrics are enthralling. And they provide a glimpse of what’s to come. The swirling, light and airy ‘Afraid To Fall’ and the laid back and immersive ‘Break Yourself’ with its haunting paranoid synth’s are enough to put you in a sofa comatose state.
But Chase is clever and puts his unravelling, direct lyrics up against a backdrop of musical Valium, ensuring complete control. ‘Life In The Shade’ is something special and spellbinding to say the least. Initially very laid back yet heavily emotive, it soon becomes apparent that this is a very personal album, which reveals and explores some of Chase’s innermost feelings, ideas and experiences.
These become more pronounced in the full-bodied confidence of ‘Golden’, Brookville’s emotional call to arms. The basic, to the point lyrics say all that needs to be said and the commanding urgency of the trumpets bring a new dimension to the album. As does ‘Today’ with its delicately assembled instrumentation and foreboding chorus “You think this loves forever? Don’t be sold, not ever, What I offer to you may someday undo you”.
|
‘Up On The Wire’, ‘Hey You Hang On’ and ‘Missed You Again’ display another side to Brookville’s song-writing diversity and their ability to weave a web of delicate complexities through no nonsense melodic brilliance. These display all the hallmarks of top class songwriters in complete control. There’s also a more experimental side to ‘Life In The Shade’. ‘Nothings Meant To Last’ sees classic Parisian chic lounge influences matched against a washed up French femme fatale co-vocal.
The most pleasing facet of the album though is it’s consistency and the way that it evolves and develops as a personal story that’s easily accessible, recognisable and strangely similar to listening to one of Pink Floyd’s later albums. Commanding, reflective, resigned, and confident, it’s every day life rolled into one. It might take some time to get into and fully appreciate, but it’s worth the effort.
|
