feeds on majesty - EP

Feeds On Majesty

EP
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

Feeds On Majesty is the kind of band that will capture your ear within a second. On their release EP they exude some strong songwriting in minimalist and quiet soundscapes. The whimsically driving songs have great flow and take a classical approach to percussion, using steady bass drum, powerful timpani, and the smooth wash of rolling cymbals to bring further life to the art. At the forefront lays a simplistic beauty and those charming mulit-part harmonies that are nothing short of Fleet Foxes. Of course, the music diverts at times to some lesser moving compositions and some of the songs lay a little flat. 

The album coasts toward the end toward basically dreamy voicing that coaxes for a soft landing. I can sense this group is capable of more present and structured work so that aspect deflated my opinion just slightly. If we press into the crust a little more, one can find that beyond “The Haunting” things are generally distancing themselves from all that was piquing in the opener.

“After Us” is built upon harmonies and dazed beauty, but has little strength in holding attention. The following tracks are equally as guilty save for “Lack” in the gliding and grooving chorus. I feel a reevaluation of their instrumentation would be greatly beneficial. These guys hit their stride when they use their blend of contemporary and classical to illustrate a calming and elegant folk sound. As “Lack” vibrates with strings and drums we can hear a taste of what could come with a full voiced section. 

“Leaves Turn To Green” opens up briefly in between the soft canvas, but “Postlude” is dormant. This isn’t to say it doesn’t have musical flavor or interesting vocal arrangement it’s more a matter of it being one idea that doesn’t take shape or find movement through tension or much melodic diversity. This album is a sedating and natural experience to put it in lesser words. For those looking for audio relaxation, you’ve got a friend in this one.

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