Venice Is Sinking : AZAR :: Review
There must be something in the water in Athens, Georgia that keeps producing gorgeous dream pop bands like Pacific UV and Venice Is Sinking. Where Pacific UV excel at crafting spacey odes, Venice Is Sinking remain rooted to earthier realms with their elegiac sound bolstered by the warm harmonies of singer Daniel Lawson and Karolyn Troupe which can be found on their new release “AZAR.”
“Azar One” is a cathartic opener that builds its stately cadence before spilling over into a quiet climax. The melancholy “Ryan’s Song” features the hushed vocals of Lawson and Troupe surrounded by the lovely layers of string accompaniment and processed guitar. As the album progresses to its centerpiece, “Young Master Sunshine” you begin to feel the weight of whatever tragedy has befallen this young band. Whatever the exact circumstances, a lot of great emotional music has been written because of it, and the solace it brings is immeasurable. As the album closes, “Sun Belt” kicks things off as a dirge that shows a small bit of light through the clouds. This light is reflected through “Charm City” which closes out the proceedings here on a slightly optimistic note.
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