It was back in 2010 that Melanie interviewed Providence, Rhode Island artist Brendan Glasson of Vio/Miré for Folk Radio UK. She described his work as “a moving picture postcard of striking landscapes matched with a style of storytelling evoking an ambivalent loneliness and hope, recordings of lo-fi bedroom folk stitched together with segments of ambient sound art” (read the full interview here). Around the time of that interview Brendan was shifting away from bedroom recordings but the evocative storytelling and intimacy of his work has never been lost as demonstrated on his latest offering ‘You Will be Spending Time Outdoors, in the Mountains, Near Water‘
Throughout the album the intimacy of the moment is heightened by the ambience of reed organ drone, chorals, cello and synths, a softened backdrop upon which Glasson’s vocals sparkle with both fragility and overwhelming emotive power. He delivers the most poetic lyrics which even when broken down stand well upon their own “labored lovers lingering in bed” / “captive creatures curled up in a pen”. The one word song titles ‘Nutmeg‘, ‘Arms‘, ‘Foxes‘ strip away preconceptions and beckon an open-mind. The album is captivating, you will never listen to it the same way again after your first listen.
Nothing is overdone which heightens those small flourishes or unexpected moments such as the rise and falling chorus on Dogs 2, the chaotic trombone on Battles calming to a gentle reed organ waltz outro or the uplifting campfire vocals on ‘Trains‘ which glide away to a ghostly haunting otherworld.
The album, for me at least, has an earthy feel (maybe helped a bit by the album title) but I don’t mean that in a new-age way…I mean a more raw earth-bound connection, sometimes music leaves you with a heightened sense of awareness, it can bring a stillness to a moment…if you’ve ever sat on top of a mountain alone you’ll know what I’m on about.
This album left me feeling incredibly elated and moved. Vio/Miré have created one of the most beautiful albums I’ve heard. I’m almost afraid to say too much in case it spoils the beauty of your first listen and that’s something I’ve never felt the urge to say before so read into that what you may…
Credit must also be placed with the rest of the band: Emily Dix Thomas (cello and vocals), Dave Noyes (cello, trombone and vocals), J.P.A. Falzone (synths, Rhodes piano and vocals).
released 17 February 2014
Go and order it now: http://music.sealooks.net/