A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.
Evening Hymns - Spectral Dusk
Its use of sound, and even lack of sound, is majestic. It calmly draws you in, firmly plants you in place and in the most devastating, yet achingly lovely way carries you through its spectrum of music and emotion. Jonas Bonetta lays bare his innermost thoughts through his emotive lyrics, conveyed by his equally suggestive voice. Revolving around this one man's songwriting it's as if the expectations are for a bare, acoustic record but in reality it is quietly lush, as the production magnificently accomplishes a full sound even in the most somber and hushed moments. Powerful in the way that it can hold without needing to grab, and haunting how first the notes hang, and then the raw spirit behind it all lingers. Even the use of field recordings, as also heard on his previous album Spirit Guides, fits the intended aesthetic of the record beautifully. Gorgeous front to back, it does not rush and it seems only to improve upon repeated listening.
Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.
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