RIYL: Flaming Lips, David Byrne, Flotation Toy Warning, Cloud Cult, Broken Social Scene
Sounds Like: Concept albums: not just for Prog anymore.
A Few Words: I get my music in a myriad of ways, most of it dubious and downright sneaky. But sometimes I manage to procure a legitimate review copy of an album. It just so happens that my Twitter obsession helped me fill the shoes of "honest blogger" for once. If Twitter needs another success story, I'm willing to throw Umbrella Tree into the pile. By following a fan's tweet, I got in touch with the band and was very soon getting an earful of their latest album, The Letter C.
At first blush the album appears to revolve around a nautical theme. Swaying 3/3 signatures will suddenly shift like the seas into rockier, more disjointed patterns. And with track names like "Ocean Sober", "Starfish", and interludes called "Periscoper" (A through C) it's easy to assume they're taking us down in a lemon-tinged submersible. The lyrics, however, tell a darker story.
Despite the cover art, The Letter C isn't about going to sea; it's about what happens to the rest of us. And while the ocean is an oft used metaphor in music, its depth promises continuous revelations. Swimming among the arias and ballads, the bold melodies and orchestral accompaniments, we hear from characters in the tone of their own broken colloqualisms. In this way, Umbrella Tree casts its players with heartfelt imagination; players who, like those living in a small fishing village, exhibit two primary emotions: hope and aloneness.
The Letter C--a two-disc set including a DVD full of videos--is a troubling album masquerading as a comedy. And like an actress or widow, it puts on a brave face and steps into the light.
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