Review: Anathallo - Canopy Glow (* * * *)

I had seen so much written about Anathallo's new album, Canopy Glow, around the blogosphere recently that I decided I better check it out. I was a bit surprised that I'd never heard of these guys; apparently they've released several EPs and a full-length debut a couple years ago that garnered them quite a few fans. Anathallo is a collection of multi-instrumentalists led by singers Matt Joynt and Erica Froman that remind me a more organic version of Stars. Their sophomore effort is a beautiful indie pop album with lush instrumentation and plenty of boy/girl harmonies.

Canopy Glow is a decidedly low-key affair, relying on vocals and percussion to drive much of the music, though complex horn, guitar, and piano arrangements fill out the songs and provide some needed variation. Even at their most urgent, Anathallo still sound almost too relaxed, but the weightless, delicate feel of the music has a captivating quality to it if you pay proper attention. Highlights include "The River," a slow-building orchestral anthem, the more straightforward "All The First Pages" and the appropriately titled "Bells." As I mentioned, the vocals are the real centerpiece here, with constant harmony and unusual, yet arresting, melodies.

Lyrically, Anathallo are out there, telling strange stories of being "baptized by a dollop from a Cool Whip bowl," and singing lines like "feed the roots and honor the tongues of the animals." Fortunately, the lyrics blend well with the music, creating fantastically imagined scenes with vivid, if sometimes odd, detail. The album definitely takes a few spins to fully appreciate, but the intricate and beautiful compositions are worth the investment.

Canopy Glow is a must-hear for fans of bands like Stars and New Pornographers, or anyone looking for an enjoyable batch of low-key, well-crafted indie tunes.


Anathallo's MySpace

MP3 Monday on Wednesday: Larsen & Furious Jane, Matt Duke, Anathallo

So I missed MP3 Monday, but that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy some free music later in the week, right? I've actually got THREE songs and one video for you to enjoy, so check them out.
---------------------------------------
Larsen & Furious Jane

The first two songs actually have to do with my latest post on Larsen & Furious Jane. Two more tracks have been made available for posting from their fantastic record, Zen Sucker, so I'm putting them up here because it's imperative that you take a listen. "Vietnamese Pool Boy" is a dark, edgy tune, while "Local Nobility" leans more toward mellow noise rock. Both are great.


Vietnamese Pool Boy (MP3)

Local Nobility (MP3)
---------------------------------------

Matt Duke

This next song comes from singer/songwriter Matt Duke. Duk is well-loved in his home town, Philadelphia, and has recently released his sophomore album entitled Kingdom Underground. The song, "Spilt Milk," is an emotional pop-rock ballad that deals with some heavy issues. Matt's new album is full of more weighty matters than love or heartache, as he explains;

“Love songs – I put those aside. I hear them on the radio so often. Writing about love and breakups is almost tired. The whole idea of your spiritual unrest, what you believe in and what you don’t, what you’re struggling with now and what you will struggle with for the rest of your life, were, for some reason, the things that were the easiest to write about."

Spilt Milk (MP3)
--------------------------------------

Anathallo

OK, so I'm cheating a little here. This isn't a track for download, but it's a song you should hear. Over at Pitchfork they have a video for the song "Bells" by the band Anathallo. The band have a rich art-rock sound full of gorgeous instrumentation and layers of harmony. Their new album Canopy Glow was released on Tuesday and is receiving rave reviews already. The video is odd, to say the least, but the song is wonderful.

Bells (Video)