Album Review
Venice Is Sinking
Azar (03.31.2009)
If Venice Is Sinking were a drug, they’d be a very powerful sedative. The orchestral musings and delicate harmonized vocals on offer on Azar are both dream inducing and seductively beautiful. Of the eleven tracks, seven use the mixed vocals as a meaningful instrumentation, the other four forgo vocals altogether.
The beauty of tracks like “Ryan’s Song” and “Iron Range” is in their subtle, layered sound that at times seems like an entire orchestra playing in a well-balanced, muted blend. It’s slow and layered, but never overdone. As subtle and well formed as Azar’s tracks are, there’s a definite hint of brooding melodrama underlying them all.
The four instrumentals – each bearing the albums title – are sprinkled liberally through the record, each sounding like a perfect soundtrack to a David Attenborough documentary. There’s the lightly energetic ‘fish leap up a waterfall’ track and the powerful yet subtle ‘lion falls asleep after large meal’ track, each as note perfect as that last.
If there’s one gripe with Azar it’s that it’s not an album you could easily sit down and listen to in your front room. It’s more suited to a view over one of the Seven Wonders of the World, or a cocktail-fuelled sunset after a nasty but long-overdue break up.
If Venice did sink, this would be the soundtrack on the slowed down video of the water slowly rising over the central peak of the Rialto Bridge. In short, Azar is extraordinarily beautiful, though you still might not listen to it all that often. One for the collection. [ END ]
Track Listing:
01. Azar One
02. Ryan’s Song
03. Okay
04. Azar Two
05. Wetlands Dancehall
06. Young Master Sunshine
07. Azar Three
08. Sun Belt
09. Iron Range
10. Azar Four
11. Charm City
Run Time: 43:13
-
Alternative/Rock2 hours ago
The V13 Fix #010 w/ High on Fire, NOFX, My Dying Bride and more
-
Hardcore/Punk7 days ago
Hastings Beat Punks Kid Kapichi Vent Their Frustrations at Leeds Beckett University [Photos]
-
Alternative/Rock6 days ago
A Rejuvenated Dream State are ‘Still Dreaming’ as They Bounce Into Manchester YES [Photos]
-
Culture1 week ago
Cirque Du Soleil OVO Takes Leeds Fans on a Unique, Unforgettable Journey [Photos]
-
Music1 day ago
Reclusive Producer Stumbleine Premieres Beat-Driven New Single “Cinderhaze”
-
Indie1 week ago
Michele Ducci Premieres Bouncy New Single “You Lay the Path by Walking on it”
-
Culture2 days ago
Dan Carter & George Miller Chat Foodinati Live, Heavy Metal Charities and Pre-Gig Meals
-
Alternative/Rock1 week ago
William Edward Thompson Premieres His Stripped-Down “Sleep Test” Music Video