Lorna Irvine reviews a 'magnificent, otherworldly and beautiful' new album.
Landshapes' second album Heyoon will be in the end of year top twenty lists, all being well with the world. It's magnificent, otherworldly and beautiful.
Produced by Giles Barrett and David Holmes, the indie quartet's sound is massive and rich with a particularly eccentric strain of storytelling. 'Stay' with Jemma Freeman's wiggly, driving guitar and Dan Blackett's crunching drums is an almighty, anthemic head-rush, and 'Moongee' a spooked tale of migratory space geese, but it's 'Rhino' which gets under the skin, an alchemical mix of Banshees guitar swathes and singer Luisa Gersteine at her most vulnerable.
Loss, secrets and hiding feature heavily--it could almost be deemed magical realism, were that not a trite and overused term. Landshapes transcend their 80s/90s influences by sounding like themselves only.
Epic 'Desert' has fiery drums juxtaposed with a bucolic folky riff which builds and builds into what is sure to be a festival favourite. Meanwhile, a Wicker Man vibe permeates through the electronic throbbing of 'Red Electric Love Fern’--this Pagan chant taps into their woozy psychedelic side.
It's almost enough to want to make you drop out of society altogether, but this is no tie-dye hippy cult; rather a modern updating of Goth, shoegazing and folk. A heady cocktail. Drive carefully after experiencing it.
Heyoon is out on May 4th on Bella Union Records. Landshapes continue their British tour throughout May.
Landshapes - Moongee (Official Video): http://youtu.be/N2TLVmdXnjQ
Landshapes : Stay: http://youtu.be/Muno5h8WOWs
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