From the lo-fi bastion
that is Series Two Records comes another promising mini-album courtesy of Swedish
trio My Autumn Sons. Using a synthesized melody and rhythm
section as their framework, these folks populate these serious,
Arcade Fire and Tindersticks influenced songs with a variety of vocal styles.
These include Chan Marshall-esque Anna Odlund,
and the two male vocalists who range between Ian Curtis
baritone to Bronski Beat falsetto.
The songs themselves
are a mixed bag. At times, the synthesized nature of the
instrumentation can wear thin - as on the cheesy strings on "Save
Me" and otherwise charming "Sunshine." Ultimately, the songs that shine through are
those with strong vocal melodies and rhythms that don't plod -
pretty "Save Me" and poppy "Perfect" are among the best. Some of the
other tracks sadly don't cut it. "Promised You" has hooks with
serious potential, but the transition to the chorus is dreadfully
amateurish. The rolling, Arcade Fire-esque urgency of "Again,"
meanwhile, doesn't transfer well to this sort of synth-based lo-fi
material, and its same-note boy/girl 'harmonies' don't mesh with the
track's otherwise convincingly momentous mood. Certainly, Perfect
has its share of lo-fi treasures, but other songs flat out sink.
Here's to a
more consistent follow-up album.