If You Go Down To The Woods Today….
….you are in for a treat my friends, let’s welcome our Cornish cousins Haunt The Woods to provide the entertainment and just immerse yourself in this rich and diverse collection of music, sheer joy and a pleasure to my clapped-out ears.
The ‘Elephant’ swiftly comes alive at 1.03 with crashing drums and guitar only to calm down at 1.34, this my friends is typical of the arrangements here, showcasing an intricate knowledge of how music can be varied and interesting if you think outside of the box for a minute. ‘Amethyst’ gives us the mid-tempo, slower start and the intense, rabble rousing finish, and with more glowing tunes to follow, this is a significant and exciting record. ‘Architecture’ gives us the idea of building relationships, identifying the ensuing damage, and acting accordingly and this is reflected in the line ‘don’t even speak a word, walk away and I will understand’. It is philosophical, sensitive and perceptive. A signal in ‘Red; that ‘a change is gonna come’ , well I’m buggered if I know when as we go around and around in a regimented fashion for our struggle to survive. We venture into a little prog/classic rock with ‘Brother’ and contemplate our destiny with the defeatist words ‘nothing I can do’.
Hypnotic vocals from Jonathan Stafford lead this enigmatic and complex record, it calls out to you, and you need to respond, it’s imperative. The extremely singalongable ‘Supernova’ and it’s insightful ‘governed by my limitations’ is exactly the scenario we face daily.
‘Fly’ is the cigarette lighter moment, poised and passionate, reminiscent of Amanda Palmer’s piano playing, and with stirring lyrics ‘there’s blood on my hands, I’m unclean’, it is bringing the house down stuff. An excellent example of the vocal style is in ‘Vultures’ unique in pitch and versatility, soaring heavenwards, where the voice leads, the melody will follow. The arrangements are emotionally charged; awakening feelings long buried, it’s time to face the music whether you are ready or not. The time changes enhance the songs, and you never quite know where you will end up, there is mystery within the madness.
The album is sumptuous as it sweeps down the grand staircase of an opulent mansion, turning heads as it flows gracefully and radiantly to shimmer and sway amongst the waiting audience.
Haunt The Woods have given us something to think about, something to cogitate, but don’t take too long my friends or it’ll be too late. The penultimate song is the title track, strategically placed maybe but with the beseeching ‘God only knows’ it is a testament to the tough old gig we are all enduring.
‘Opaque’ is a great word to describe our lives, full of grime and dirt, but out of that darkness emerges a band who will surely light the way and illuminate our misery-soaked souls, but only if we let them.
Haunt The Woods – Opaque out 28th February via self-release.