wordplay: Samantha Donen
A welcome sensation of doom and gloom saturates the music of the The Swayback’s sophomore album, Long Gone Lads. Throughout the album, the music of the Denver trio takes me back to Sunday nights at the 1082. The lyrics certainly add to this gothic dementia, alluding to vampire culture, and the vocal prowess of singer Eric Halbourg emotes listeners to the darkest sides of themselves. Background vocals create texture, adding a compulsion to dance with each elusive chant. Foot stomping dance beats submerge into dank, melodic bass lines which wrap around one from the inside out. Samples emit creaks, beats, and groans, ensuring a “gloomy” atmosphere, while also spurring on a desire to dance. Then, uplifting guitar riffs spark a sense of peek-a-boo, as if one is virtually floating through a dark cavernous club, catching glimpses of others caught in a random ray of light. The dark mood is addictive. Join the Swayback at their CD release party, but bring your own eyeliner…
April 5th @ The Bluebird
TheSwayback.com |