I don’t like this record much. I know that’s a pretty blunt way of starting a review, but I just cannot get into it. I’ve been flexing my ears by listening to ‘The Instinct’ and Give Up The Ghost in tandem, probably the two extremities in style and it probably hasn’t helped my opinions of Denali. It’s a bit too arty for me, the complexities and subtleties of the music go right over my head sadly. As beautiful as some it may be, the Virginia quartet simply lose me in their expressonism and vision. Whether it’s the song structures or Maura Davis’ vocals, which at times go a little too Bjork for my liking, it’s a record which is difficult at the best of times and takes a hell of a lot of work to embrace and understand.
Recorded with Peter Katis, who was at the helm of albums by Mercury Rev and Interpol, this album simply plays on the fact that Maura has an amazing voice. It’s whispery in its breathlessness, creating a unique standpoint that serves Denali well. In places, such as the opening ‘Hold Your Breath’ the band play to their strengths and flex their collective muscles impressively. The guitars chop and change around the vocals, a distinct range of effects are used too and the whole song sounds complex, clever and cool. But the album as a whole falls down in too many places for trying to be too clever – and while this opening song is accessible to many for keeping some pop sensibilities in place, most of it is a little too up its own bum for my liking.
For example, ‘Run Through’ bases itself around an electronica beat and sampled effects that create a rather stand-offish atmospheric piece. The vocals, intent on soothing, come across a little forced, like Maura’s simply showing off because she can hit every single note. It’s great background music and would probably fit snugly onto a film score, but it’s more art than music. ‘The Instinct’ is very similar witha sampled effect kicking things off, while ‘Do Something’ shows in glimpses that Denali have some elements there to attract a larger mainstream following, but the drawn out electronics and drum beats which patter around Maura’s vocals ruin the deceptive hooks, which are pretty complex throughout.
I recently heard that two members of the band have since left for pastures new, so who knows what the future holds. You cannot help but admite the adventurous nature of this release, and the grandeur and scale that the band have attempted, but it’s simply not for me.
www.denalimusic.com
Jade Tree
Paul