The title of this record is thought provoking and a little unsettling. Much like this band at times. There’s a poignancy though that is incredibly alluring.
I first heard of this minimalist electronic duo when I went to see Youth Lagoon, touring in support of his Wondrous Bughouse record. I had a hard time taking the band seriously when I first read the oddly spelled name, but by the end of their set no one was asking any questions.
If there was any doubt left, no one should be asking any questions about Are You Alone? either.
In many ways, the album picks up where Impersonator left off. This record at first glance seems even more bare bones (who would have thought that was possible?) than the last one. Missing from this album is a standout track with a rhythm that’s upbeat. Actually, using the word “upbeat” in the context of any Majical Cloudz feels wrong but I hope you hear what I’m getting at.
It should be noted that describing music as minimalist is nowhere near the same thing as calling it lazy. Matthew Otto, the “beat master”, so to speak, of Majical Cloudz is very adept at crafting soundscapes to perfectly complement Devon Walsh’s lyricism and emotion. “You’ve got to learn to love me,” Welsh implores in “Heavy” – a song that mixes elements of chillwave and R&B. In the chilling chorus, the swells move heavenward in perfect unison, neither swallowing the words of Welsh nor becoming sleep inducing and passive.
At times I hear a lyric that I’m just not sure what to do with. “I want to kiss you inside a car that’s crashing. And we will both die laughing. Because there is nothing left to do,” is a portion of the first verse of “Silver Car Crash.” As if to echo the listener’s confusion, Otto responds with a choir of jarring synth chords. Another memorable moment of the record occurs in a recurring melody in “Control,” which seems to form a piercing question that hangs in the air with each repetition.
Are You Alone? is a record that will lead many to soul searching, and hopefully leave those folks in a place of serenity rather than disturbance. Either way, Majical Cloudz has drawn their line in the sand within the wider musical landscape and I’m stoked to see this duo grow further.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/224878855″ /]Score: 4.3/5
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