Sometimes the title just says it. Confetti Reprise delivers exactly what it says on the can: an extended play addendum to Confetti, the April debut album by A Lull. That album attracted some informed interest, and the four tracks here sit well alongside their big brother, endorsing the band’s own view that it was a shame to leave good material on the studio floor when deciding what originally made the cut. Rather than mere outtakes or fillers, these songs were originally destined for Confetti before the Chicago five-piece discovered that the album was over-long by about 20 minutes.
There’s more than a touch of Peter Gabriel about Nigel Evan Dennis’ fractured yet smooth vocal on the opener, “Pot Luck”. It’s a heavily percussive piece with a mantra-like refrain (“Pressure we pleasure is nothing but leisure”) that doesn’t quite overstay its enigmatic welcome before it gives way to further drum turmoil. Resonant, chiming psychedelic sounds also act as unexpected bridges across the hypnotic repetition of the main vocal theme. All the songs here are peppered with such lulls, if you’ll forgive the pun.
The gently nightmarish title track may be pop-song length, but sadly it won’t be costing the likes of Rihanna any sleep. Accompanied by ghostly harmonies and all manner of sound oddities, Dennis takes exaggerated intakes of breath as he tells us he has “many colors”. David Lynch would love it, and I think I do, too. “Exit Wounds” is another vehicle for a pervasive chant– “Blood, hands, grow in sand. We’re all here, we’re all here”– while dissonant bursts of brass punctuate the rhythmic solidity of the piece. It’s just over a bit quick, though.
The final track is allowed much more gestation time. “The Pit” opens with tribal rhythms, and vocal effects add a primeval quality to the song. Naturalistic themes run through the piece as Dennis seeks some kind of consort with the earth. Imagine if you will Midlake jamming with Peter Gabriel and Sigur Ros, with Imogen Heap as musical director. Confetti Reprise leaves you with an impression of a sensual experience you would like to repeat. - Consequence Of Sound |
