Search - Shearwater :: Rook

Another Stunner From Shearwater

Shamus Macgillicuddy | Brooklyn, NY United States | 06/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The folks in Shearwater continue to play by their own rules, with songs that inhabit evocative, complex arrangements--painfully beautiful, haunting even. Jonathan Meiburg's words have the same sense of deepening mystery that the band crafts so elegantly into their music, and his singing is stunning, swelling from a gentle falsetto into a resonant shout in a flash.



Although the lineup includes familiar instruments like the hammer dulcimer and the banjo, this band breaks beyond the confines of "roots music"--here, old sounds create something entirely new, using traditional music in novel and unexpected ways. There's a feeling of alchemy to it. The music grows and changes as you listen, like a shifting image, a kaleidscope. It strongly recalls Talk Talk and Mark Hollis, as well as Thomas Newman's film scores.



I had the opportunity to see Shearwater perform ROOK live in its entirety last month, and there was awe in the audience at all the talent up there--the members of this band are brilliant instrumentalists, and Meiburg is a truly riveting performer. I was thrilled to find that same energy captured so effectively on this CD. It's a treasure.



This is hands-down one of the albums of 2008. There's simply nothing else out there like it. If you have not explored Shearwater yet, get started. You'll be richly rewarded."

Is there an Eden?

bob | outta the desert and onto the rocks... | 12/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was traveling through Indochine - doing nothing - nothing much at all when I chanced across a music store and found this CD on their racks.

Being outta touch and outta place I was not expecting to find such a treasure - so recent and all - so far away from home.

So I forked out the necessary and took my foundling home - delighted.

Now I was WOW'd by Shearwater when I first discovered them some time back and over the years they have become a regular listen for me.

Each new disc being an evolutionary creation - a variation on a theme.

Nowt much wrong with that methinks.

Works of continuity and consistency - same same - but different.

Certainly no repetitive formula this.

Once home I hit the horizontal, plug in and relax - go where the music takes me.

Mesmerized and hypnotized by imagined magical soundscapes - the soundtrack to my natural world - the songs of my nature - the music of my life

All that I find calm and contemplative.

However conversely I often find myself taken to the edge of chaos and confusion, but there is pleasure to be found in the pain.

The calm before the storm followed by the sunshine after the rain.

Waves crashing to the rocks - before back-washing into the deep on the undertow.

Drowning/Drowned

Drowndead.

Rebirth/reborn.

Reincarnate

Sweet, soured vocals and honeyed, rasping playing compliment and contrast on this recording.

Now I am sure I will miss Will Sheff - but I am not for now on this outing.

Some will try to categorize this band (or is it a collective?); Folk? Americana? Indie? - but forget it.

Why bother - they just don't need it (sic) - and to pigeon-hole them does them no justice - they are simply unique to me and my ilk - and I hope they will be to you and yours too.

Now, I don't wanna spoil a good thing but, if references need to be made to help me help you understand where I think they're coming from, then I could do a lot worse than mention King Crimson, Robert Fripp, Talk Talk, Mark Hollis, Radiohead and Sugar Ros.

I hope I am not misleading you.

Whatever - this is a fine piece of contemporary music.

Does it take me closer to Eden?

Well, I like to think so.





"

Falsetto beautiful but tiresome

J. Skrzynski | 01/06/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I do enjoy Shearwater. The voice, the music, the way it fits with driving through wind-swept winter landscapes. However, this one felt a little indulgent to me."