My Boys Friday
John Michael Foss, Joshua Bertram and the terrifically named Chaz Knapp (Yanks the three of them) are the component parts of Our Brother The Native, and although they're all still wearing relatively short trousers, (two of them have walked this earth for only seventeen years; one for nineteen) 'Make Amends, For We Are Merely Vessels' is not only their sophomore album (following 2006's Tooth And Claw), it's one of such mind-bending mysteriousness, flagrant flamboyance and bona fide beauty, it's pretty damn hard to ignore them, (although I would advise you to ignore the ludicrous title).
Although the album boasts only eight songs, not one is below six minutes in length (the monolithic closer 'The Multitudes Are Dispersing' weighs in at almost fourteen minutes); but that's not the only reason why none of these "songs" is likely to get airplay. The other is that they're all fucking mental.
'Make Amends, For We Are Merely Vessels' is a concept album to be sure and at first listen you'll start to wonder what the concept is. Then you'll kick yourself when you start thinking that there might not be a concept and you'll feel immensely proud for thinking "out-of-the-box". Then you'll start drinking methylated spirit and beating up homeless children with spoons because you'll start thinking that surely the perceived lack of a concept actually is a concept in itself which means that there is a concept after all and you just don't know what it is because you're a bit thick. This is pointless. You are not a bit thick. Relax.
Although like you, I'm not a bit thick, I haven't got a clue what the specific creative vision or concept behind this album is either. I haven't got a clue what this record is really about; I haven't got a clue what Our Brother The Native are trying to achieve by releasing it and I most certainly haven't got a clue if it's gonna be successful or not. I really haven't got a clue about most things relating to this album and to be honest with you, I haven't got a clue if any of you cares that I haven't got a clue about any of the above. I only know that I don't care that I haven't got a clue. Confused? Me too - I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about.
In a purely physical and primitive sense, the point of this album is immersion into dense, complex, affecting and emotive sonic landscapes; landscapes created through the layering of seemingly disparate sounds. And this album is certainly layered guys...well layered. It's got loads of layers; serious amounts of stratum, tons of tiers, lots of levels...well, you get the point. If I was employed by the band, I'd suggest they rename it 'Make Amends, For I Am Merely An Onion', but I reckon I get told to piss off because Americans don't do irony.
Loops, samples, keyboards, guitars, synths, banjos, violas, pianos, random sounds; they're all thrown into the mix here to create the sonic equivalent of a quadruple decker lasagne sandwich in a bap with extra cheese that's been locked in a soundproofed display case. To be frank, it beggars description, which is to say that it's baffling - which I suppose is a description in itself so surely this means it can be described after all - hang on, haven't we had this conversation before?
"So what does it sound like?" I hear you cry. Although it's fundamentally rocky (only a deep fried Granny Smith is crunchier than these guitars) it's also romantic, whimsical, sinister, beautiful, anthemic, oblique, lush, stark, mournful, romantic, explosive, timid, dynamic, invigorating and exhausting. I guess if you want a one word review, I'd have to go with electrifying. It ain't ever boring that's for damn sure.
The ethereal screams in 'Rejoice' soon give way to delicate mournful descant piano licks ('As They Fell Beneath Us'); which in turn segue effortlessly to the mid tempo quasi-ballad 'We Are The Living'. Other noteworthy moments are the barely audible cassette-ripped samples of Bertram playing the piano age four on 'Younger' and the dispiriting malevolent choral tracks on 'The Multitudes Are Dispersing'.
'The Trees' (parts one and two) are perhaps the most accessible and coherent tracks on the album but in reality there's really no point in isolating these from the rack of eight contained therein. It's basically one long track that's been divided into eight only because it gives the band members the opportunity to dream up pretentious titles. You can't dip into 'Make Amends, For We Are Merely Vessels' for a quick five minute fix like you can with a typical rock album. You really need to pay serious attention to this the whole seventy-plus minutes...all of them.
So let's wrap this shit up. I've given 'Make Amends, For We Are Merely Vessels' a score of seven because thirteen is an odd number that can't be halved. That meant I was forced to choose either seven or six and for some odd reason I'm feeling rather generous. In no way can I recommend you buy it - and in no way can I recommend you avoid it either - it is what it is. You'll either love it or hate it. You make the choice.
Oh - and I know I've not mentioned what the lyrics (such as they are) mean - it's because I haven't got a clue what they mean. Well at least I'm consistent...