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Holding On For Brighter Days

BY Sari DelmarPublished Jul 18, 2007

I have yet to find an album worthy of a comparison to Imogen Heap’s Speak for Yourself, until now. This Boston band are armed with a handful of redeeming qualities, the most prominent being lead female vocalist Maria Christopher. Her vocal chords are coated in maple syrup and they sculpt these songs like toes slinking through golden sand. The soft timbre glides blissfully and romantically, leaving the songs tasting as orgasmic as a warm peanut butter cup. The musicians shimmer and shine through relaxed post-rock landscapes but never reach out to the listener like the vocals. Many songs, like "Heaven Owes Me One” or "1001 Gods,” have a tender, worldly tone that reaches beyond the capabilities of American influence towards something more cultivated and unique. Trip-hop and jazzy beats add diversity on "Closer to You,” while eerie, nature-esque samples and electronic whisperings impress on "Sorrow’s Crown.” Great things can be done with a voice as sensational as Christopher’s and this CD explores the endless possibilities eloquently, making for one sultry escape from our cluttered lives.
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