Ribbons
Royals (Osaka)
Jherek Bischoff is a busy man, having worked with a list of bands including the likes of Xiu Xiu and The Dead Science he has found the time to write, perform produce, mix, master and ‘be’ Ribbons. If you are familiar with both The Dead Science and Xiu Xiu, you will have an excellent idea as to what this album holds for you. ‘Dark’ is an over used word, as is ‘melancholic’. Clandestine, however, seems to parallel the delicacy and fragility of the emotions contained within it’s disturbed running time. ‘Royals’, is much closer in spirit to The Dead Science’s grandiose haunting soundscapes than to Xiu Xiu’s visceral energies. If you can imagine Radiohead at their most adventurous ‘Kid A’ musings and combine it with The Dead Science and Arcade Fire you’re pretty much there. Lilting strings, vocals and guitars and mandolins all drowning in the coldest reverb possible, lend this record a genuinely eerie edge. When you factor in the nursery rhyme perversion in ‘Children’s Song’ and the contrasting woodwinds in ‘Automatism’ and the screeching viola’s in Miu Miu (a pleasing nod to Xiu Xiu) you have one of the most perturbing albums I have ever heard. There are (thankfully) changes in mood, like the meditative ‘Tongue Tied’, which showcase Bischoff’s incredible versatility, both as a musician and a producer, whereas, ‘Silver Locket’ is a shining example of modern composition. Overall, there is not a great quantity of differentiation from the work with other acts he has previously performed with, but there is enough of an incredible talent to carry this record through to the end.
Ross Gilchrist
