Described as “love songs for anarchists, Tsunami, ” the fourth release from IGAF Sequoia, hints that even the most stalwart of authoritarian skeptics uncork a decent rosé by the fire every so often. And who can blame them? Invented romance is hopelessly charming on levels that Molotov cocktails never quite scratch.
On Tsunami, this four piece outfit – half of which is comprised of banjos – plumb the depths of sad sack indie-folk in an easily digestible (and extraordinarily melodic) 20 minutes. Comprised of Bethamy Roessler (vocals), Adam Roessler (guitar/bass), Tommy O’Neil (banjo) and Astrid O’Neil (banjo), the band explore themes of heartbreak, pain and addiction. Yet, while the subject matter weighs thickly, the music never plods. Rather, Roessler’s fragile voice – always one dangerous note away from cracking – elevates the tone in the vein of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker. It is this very brittleness, when contrasted against buoyant melody, that is the claw in the meat. Stir in a dollop of remarkable choruses, and the recipe further delights. This is pen-to-paper sincerity with a hook, instrumental and angular and easily accessible. Who says anguish needs to be placed like an anvil over our collective chests? We’re certainly allowed to feel it, even if we walk away humming. “Crybaby,” the album opener, scores points for the most upbeat effort at masking melancholy lyricism. And while the tempo slows by “Vena Cava,” the clopping rhythm continues; adopting a countryish lilt amidst Roessler’s graveled yearn. Whether it’s the slow peel of “broken promises under layers of our skin” (from “3AM”) or the pill popped insecurity of “abrasiveness or fading looks” (from the heavily strummed “Codependent”), the punches – thrown mostly (and metaphorically) by ink – never stop. It’s exhausting yet beautiful, like watching a corpse flower bloom in time-lapse. The final tune, “Picking Up Your Teeth,” is a punch-in-the-gut tale of horrifying emotional abuse, juxtaposing liberal values against those of a housebound prison. “I’m a pacifist / you’re a narcissist / I’m a passive aggressivist,” Roessler drones. It’s the kind of poetry that leaves one shaken – chilled, even – particularly upon hearing the revelation at the end. And the clever wordplay, a constant across six songs, should be a jealousy inducing bane for all those who wish they could turn such phrases. Too often musicians craft music for themselves; sprawling think pieces or tomes of self-righteousness that abandon the listener to an afterthought. Or hit them over the head, as is the case with the painfully literal train wrecks of CCR gloss. IGAF Sequoia rejects both notions. By fashioning lyrically sharp expressions that cling, rather than meander, this brand of alternative-folk sticks like a hearty oatmeal. No one’s losing any credibility for adhering to the verse-chorus-verse structure. To the contrary, it keeps us hooked. Hard. And I’ll take a punch or two for the privilege of listening, anarchist or otherwise.
1 Comment
2/1/2022 04:30:54 pm
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the album! 🖤
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