The Veils
Nux Vomica (Rough Trade)
By Emily Becker
Published: May 17th, 2007 | 4:49pm
From the dark opening chords of “Not Yet” to the softer strains of “The House Where We All Live,” the Veils sophomore effort, Nux Vomica, which also refers to the Strychnine Tree, a homeopathic remedy aimed at treating excessive aggression and can be deadly if not properly administered, offers listeners a distinct yet ever-changing set of songs that are at once catchy, yet also complex enough to withstand repeated listenings—all without fear of accidental poisoning. While the Veils are not technically a solo project, vocalist Finn Andrews is the only member to appear on both Nux Vomica and the band’s 2005 debut, The Runaway Found.
Finn Andrews is the son of British musician Barry Andrews, who is best remembered for his squalling vocals and bald head as he fronted the ‘80s band Shriekback. The elder Andrews was also a founding member of XTC, and has recently lent his talents to Andy Partridge’s Monstrance. But don’t expect Finn to mimic his old man, there are no “freaks and cannibals” to be found on Nux Vomica. Instead the younger Andrews attempts to compress time to a near stop, by allowing classic sounds like strings, accordion, and girly backing vocals to abut the rougher instrumentation.
The record wanders through a variety of musical territory, from light acoustic melodies to angular electric guitars, borrowing liberally from Nick Cave. But imagine the Bad Seeds if you took them to the matinee, with the roughest edges removed, leaving nothing but the minor chords, rhythmic percussion, and vocals. “Jesus for the Jugular” and “Calliope!” in particular earn Andrews the Cave comparisons. While “One Night on Earth” blends Interpol with Ian McCulloch, using strings to bolster the upbeat guitar melody, as breathy backing vocals widen the song’s sound. On “Under the Folding Branches” the band attempts a ballad, and while there is honest depth of feeling, it is executed less effectively than the rest of the record. The record’s indisputable centerpiece is “Advice for Young Mother’s to Be,” with endorphin-inducing piano, rich ‘60s-style back-up vocals, all dripping with Andrews’s lush singing; it sounds wholly original. Unfortunately, no other track follows in its footsteps. It’s nearly impossible to believe Andrews is only 22 after hearing this song, setting up hopes that the third Veils record will be unstoppable.
Issue #35
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more