June 8, 2005

{ The Perishers - Let There Be Morning }

"Weekends", the lead-in track on Let There Be Morning, could very well be the soundtrack to my life as of late. Laced with a gentle sort of dolor, it lays bare the modern working-class malaise inherent in being chained to a soulless day-job while constantly dreaming of the escape to personal freedom that comes upon clocking out for the weekend. The ability to deal with this sort of real-life dilemma sincerely and genuinely is something The Perishers manage quite well throughout Let There Be Morning. In many ways, this is the "album for the everyman" that Coldplay's Chris Martin wishes he was still capable of writing. Comparisons between The Perishers and Coldplay are well-grounded, as they traffic in fairly similar brands of emotionally-driven piano-rock, though lacking multi-million dollar success and movie-star wives, it's a bit easier to swallow The Perishers' tales of everyday strife. They also exhibit a bit less flourish and pop-appeal, and while that may keep them from going platinum it might also keep them well-grounded enough to insure that they can continue to deliver such honest sentiment. And really it's the raw and rough-edged beauty of Let There Be Morning that lets it work. From vocalist Ola Kluft's throaty, whipering lilt to the spare basslines and simple yet catchy melodic strumming of the guitar, there's something indelibly down-to-earth about The Perishers' sound. And when things occasionally veer towards the lush, as on the string-and-slide-guitar laden "Still Here", it's the sardonic lyrics that help ground things- So this world has left you bare I'm sorry I no longer care I wonder who'll be there for you when I'm not One of the album's most pleasant surprises comes in the form of "Pills", where Kluft shares vocal duties with the honey-tongued Sara Isaksson, a perfect compliment to his understated delivery. Things also take a turn for the interesting with the closing piece/title-track, offering up some doo-wop piano stylings and a bit of slow-dance crooning. As a whole, Let There Be Morning stands as one of the most softly beautiful (though sometimes doleful) albums I've heard in a long while.

» Buy it...

By Adam in Music | Comments:

Comments

i saw these guys open for Sarah Mclachlan and thought they sounded great... finally bought the cd and...oh my...Sway and Trouble Sleeping are lovely, of course...but Pills...such sadness and beauty together...buy this cd...right now...go...shoo...enjoy

Posted by: jess at June 27, 2005 9:49 PM