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Music credentials in Austin are like ambulance sirens: they precede the band by miles, and generally ring hollow in one’s ears long after the original noise source has vanished into obscurity. With this in mind, one couldn’t help but be suspicious when news arrived that Erik Wofford (Explosions in the Sky/ Voxtrot) and Jim Eno (Spoon) agreed to produce Austin group All Hail’s new EP. Both of these men hold a special place in Austin’s collective indie mythology, but one wonders if their names overshadow the band’s own talent as a selling device. Luckily for the band, a single listen-through of the latest EP, Every Wealth, assuages these fears - those portentous sirens are nowhere to be found.
Granted, the indie rock sextet’s first release isn’t blessed with levity, but at least any death knells to be heard are those intentionally created by the band. As the first warm, sustained guitar chord resounds from the speakers, All Hail clearly proclaims its mission - to make dramatic, emotional music for people who like dramatic, emotional music.
Vocalist/guitarist Garrett Loontjer’s whispered sentiments on opener “Yours to Lose” set the pace of the album as we are left “to think of the cost/ that your balance could be lost/ with a kiss of such luck�you get carried along.” Silence is impossible to find on Every Wealth, as Terry Youngkin ‘s gently driving drum rhythms and Loontjer’s sustained vocal notes catches the listener in a slipstream that doesn’t let go until the album’s finale. “Yours to Lose” also offers a first exposure to the narcotically addictive lead guitar lines that litter the album. Not pretentious, not too sparse, and almost dripping with melody and style, the lead guitar work on this album is, in all honesty, without flaw. As promised, the album’s production shines here, as perfectly set instrument tones accent all the band’s fortes, at least for a time.
“James” features an excellent effect-heavy guitar breakdown with Daniel Huff’s overdriven bass providing extra force as Loontjer commands him, “you/arm yourself for war”; the chanting choruses shine as the most cohesive moments of the EP, and seem to have the strength of a somber and war-weary army. While not the most upbeat song, “James,” definitely commands the most attention. The band switches into a much more jerky and discordant sound on “Triumphant,” breaking the at-times homogeneous feel of the album. Unfortunately, this is also the weakest song on the album. The chorus, “you’re triumphant now/ but not for long” seems awkward and lacks the flow and creativity of some of the other tracks. The abhorrently beautiful lead guitar lines found elsewhere fall to the side as a dark-but-forgettable keyboard steps up to take its place. Here too, as in slower numbers like “Notice,” Youngkin’s voice seems rooted too high in his throat, taking on a shallow, flattened tone - especially during the quieter moments of the song. During choruses, when he opens up a bit more, he regains some fullness and a bit more genuine tone that helps redeem the disjointed song.
The album recovers in its final moments, as title track “Every Wealth” incorporates some brooding violin and piano work that imbue the song with a dramatic and classic flair. Ultra-delayed guitar, though simple, accents these parts perfectly, and the collective effect illustrates the amazing arrangement this band is capable of. While the group’s true charm doesn’t reveal itself fully until the last song, it is worth the wait. Even when one particular song comes up short, All Hail’s ability to work the dynamics of a song - building up climactically before cutting back - makes each song seem particularly cinematic.
Sure, production has a lot to do with it. The mixing and production are spot on - the guitars are a summer-campfire of warmth against the icy emotion of Loontjer’s lyrics - but the band carries itself quite proudly even without Wofford and Eno’s sharp musical sensibilities. Accessible and angst-ridden, All Hail’s first release, Every Wealth, is surprisingly smart, with each modest part coalescing to a rather extravagant whole that may just be worthy of its credentials.
Websites:
www.allhail.net
Myspace
