Iris is the follow up to last years Jeniferever / The Next Autumn Soundtrack split release of Toddler / BSM. Obviously with this being a solo release, the Swedish emo boys have appeared to have had full control over how they want the E.P to come across, One of the first things you notice is the four songs last a total of 37 minutes, and there’s no bonus track.
Drawing back to the split E.P, I was looking forward to hearing what this record had to offer, as I believed Jeniferever were completely out classed by The Next Autumn Soundtrack on the last effort. Their music was little more than introduction music apposed to TNAS’ more up beat and energetic style. This was the opportunity to see if Jeniferever could hold their own with music that could actually be listened to on a regular basis. The first track, “You Only Live Twice†is a wonderfully crafted song, the musicianship is of high standard as ever, as the band introduce a string trio and a brass trio into the equation adding depth and lifting out warmth and harmony. Timing in at 6 minutes 52 seconds, this the E.P’s shortest track. That’s the one thing I’ve never been convinced of, Jeniferever‘s persistence on drawing out tracks, creating the branded “music to fall asleep to†tag.
However, at least Iris has a full lyric sheet to back it up. Those who actual recall the last E.P will remember there was about 3 lines to complement the 2 songs which lasted, 12 and a half minutes long. And admittedly, the lyrics on Iris are as well sculpted as the music, vocalist Kristofer Jonson particularly shines in “For the World Is Hollow And I have Touched The Sky,†is faint wispy voice taints this 13 minute trilogy with lines such as, “Things which happened last spring. Could have been the topic of the day at your daily café. Now it’s just the scene where his eyes fill with…, as they’re both not going home alone.â€
Something about Jeniferever always reminds me of bonus tracks on Placebo albums, especially anyone who owns the first Placebo album. Whether or not it’s the voice, or the guitar tones, or just the ability to continually draw out simple chord patterns and continue to layer, strip down, layer, strip down etc. All in all this CD is another art and abstract effort, wonderfully crafted, wonderfully performed and wonderfully captured. Music to sleep to, not for the party or to raise the mood of a lonely emo kid down the road. Maybe this is the point, and if it is, I obviously missed it.
Pete