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Rating: Active for about fifteen years or so, here is the latest album by the Besnard Lakes, "The Besnard Lakes Are The Last Of The Thunderstorm Warnings."
Everything can be said about this work, except that it's not an ambitious album. And when the intention is to do so, a misstep is almost always right around the corner (the experts talk about "pretentiousness"). So let's clear up any confusion: the band hits the mark wonderfully. They don't invent anything new, to be clear (who does in 2021?) but it's surprising how they manage to create a very personal and contemporary psychedelia without sounding outdated. "Expansion" is the key word: each track is a journey from which, once you press play, it's impossible to withdraw.
The soundscapes and atmospheres are splendid; it's evocative music, music that inevitably leads you to imagine boundless landscapes, uninhabited lands.
The whole thing sounds muffled, not very direct, but it's a spot-on stylistic choice, consistent with the "sense" of the album. (It's important to highlight that the album was born from the traumatic experience of the loss of the father of one of the band members).
The opener "Blackstrap" is a gem that plays magnificently with dynamics, "Raindrops," which pays homage to Hollis of Talk Talk, enchants with its progression and melody. With "The Dark Side of Paradise," we're in Flaming Lips territory, while "The Father of Time Wakes Up," another tribute, this time to Prince, strikes with the beautiful solo that emerges without warning. "Feuds With Gun," the only track under five minutes, hits the mark from the first seconds with its interesting and original sound solutions.
The other tracks are no less impressive.
A very solid album, to be listened to and re-listened to, preferably in dim lighting. Don't miss out on this journey; the ticket is offered by the Besnard Lakes.
Tracklist
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