Necessary Animals
S/T
Self released
On this dark beauty of an album, Necessary Animals knit together diverse influences into a comprehensive whole. The group comprises Keith Rodway (The Good Missionaries), Amanda Thompson (The Big Believe), and Alan Bruzon (Cuban Boys), with a host of top-notch guests, including Simon Charterton (Higsons) on drums, and produced by Fritz Catlin (23 Skidoo). Ingvild Deila (yes, that one -- Princess Leia in "Rogue One") brings powerful, honest vocals that are honestly good.
Well-crafted, complex arrangements with an eclectic array of instruments explore anxiety, loss, elusiveness, our animal nature, and hope, whether in the contemporary prog stylings of the eponymous opening track, the upbeat world music flavors of "Talk to Me", or the psych-Reggae "Walking to Babylon". The nocturnal, enchanting "Darkness Comes Over the Hills"layers a bluesy guitar solo by Steve Finnerty over a piano backbone and twinkling chimes. "Piano Thing" is modern chamber music, melodic but dissonant, evoking the depths of an unquieting night faced alone. Closer "Revelation" brings us back to the 90's beat-inflected post-pop we explore on "Amarilla", admonishing us to be strong, to not be afraid, to not lose hope. The songs draw you into a groove, then throw you a delightful curve ball of a key change, style change, or unexpected instruments coming in. All in all a wonderful album, disturbing and off-kilter enough to be interesting, even challenging, while maintaining melodic beauty and a balance of familiar, comfortable elements. --
Jen Grover (guest blogger)
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