The Swell Season
Strict Joy
Angela Macari O’Looney
Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer/Pianist Marketa Irglova merge their contrasting voices and musical creativity, on this soothing and memorable compilation of Folk/ Alternative songs.
The name The Swell Season is derived from Glen’s favourite novel by Josef Skvorecky.
Lead singer from renowned band The Frames, Hansard has had an incredibly successful career to date and the duo also starred together in the film Once. One of their best known songs is Falling slowly, for which they received an academy award in the best original song category. The soundtrack from the film was their second album and following this Glen and Marketa went on to produce successful singles, some which feature on this CD.
My favourite song is The Rain, track four. It begins with just Glen’s vocals and an acoustic guitar, building up to a full sound with strings, piano and a vibrant rhythm.
Marketa’s harmony is close, the melody is magical and the way it seems to develop into a big dynamic sound is exhilarating.
Low Rising
The opening track is soulful, with pretty guitar throughout and rippling piano. Harmony is delicious, as is the ever present baseline. A beautiful guitar solo is performed, trumpet coming in later. With lots of brass, strings and piano this slow song is a treat!
Feeling the pull has a bustling three four tempo, full piano chords creating rhythm and a harmonica which joins in later. This has sweet harmony in the chorus and has a Bob Dylan feel to it.
In these arms is a simple love song, the chorus being the catchiest part with a sentiment repeated; Maybe I was born to hold you in these arms.
I have loved you wrong, performed by Marketa has a throbbing baseline that frames the entire piece. Her voice is light; as she sings this sad love song with it’s sleepy but beautiful melody line. Angelic harmony sung closely behind the chorus, adds to the restful ambience of this track. Piano notes are sweet and Glen comes in singing backing vocals with a haunting refrain repeated ;Every now and then on my mind, yeah on my mind.
Performing on most of the tracks of this album are members of Alternative/Indie/ Rock band The Frames. Colm Mac Con Iomaire – Violin, Joe Doyle – Bass, Robert Bochnik – Guitar and Graham Hopkins – Percussion, contribute to the seamless backdrop of each piece. Also featuring here are guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), Pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), plus Chad Taylor Percussionist (Chicago underground duo). Horns are Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton (Levon Helm’s band).
Fantasy Man
Plucked guitar notes behind choral style la las, plus Marketa’s accent all add to the charm of this pretty piece!
It’s like a slow waltz with its haunting melody, her voice light and clear as she pours each melancholic line out. The lyrics are profound, but involve beautiful metaphors. I like the first verse especially; There’s diamonds growing in the mountains, beneath the pressure of all time. They grow in hope and expectation, waiting for your hands to find. Cause only you could reach inside me and figure out the worth, of a life I lived providing what it was you needed most.
The chorus involves an unusual key change within it, as it goes from sweet majors to dramatic minors and is breathtakingly beautiful, as gradually more instruments are introduced. Then for the final part you are taken back to the simple sung intro with only the plucked guitar.
Paper Cup
James Blunt/ Eric Clapton come to mind for me in this pensive song, performed by Glen. It is romantic and I find the Spanish style guitar solo impressive. It’s a sleepy number, but really romantic with a barely there beat tapped out and a touch of keys, with percussion but a whisper!
Two Tongues
The first line here is ballad-like, but it then picks up to a choppy tempo. Close harmony is delectable, as the male and female vocals blend to perfection. Glen and Marketa become like one instrument playing stunning chords and discords, with piano riffs that are the icing on the cake!
High horses
Glen does a count in. Then this number bursts into being!
It’s a song I was singing after my second listen because it’s so sweet and catchy. Big piano chords, a lively feel to it and the addition of strings later on, all lend to the atmosphere. One minute you’re hearing a rhythmic verse, the next things seem to go very quiet, with just vocals singing a lonely line.
An explosive Gospel style choral refrain is performed at the end, which is haunting but very special.
Love that Conquers is so like a Simon and Garfunkel song, but this is meant in a complimentary way. I love the sustained note at the end of each line, with that slow, jazzy waltz tempo going on throughout. Javier Mas can be heard here, throwing in his tuppence worth to delight the senses. He performs exceptional flourishes of flamenco style guitar which fits in well in this uplifting piece.
The mood in The Verb is very gloomy, but the chorus is lovely with a simple but sad melody line. It seems to be about relationship struggle and the sentiments in the words are definitely reflected in the sorrowful yet gorgeous chords and notation. My favourite part here is the middle eight, with harmony just right. There’s a lovely music break just before the last chorus, where a refrain sung in the background lifts everything right up. It’s not all doom and gloom!
Last but not least is the final track on Strict Joy, which has a great title; Back Broke. Glen sings this quiet, but adorable love song. His voice is soothing, yet things build up with backing vocals joining in and piano. Towards the last chorus, strings and Javier’s input of Spanish guitar, bring this wonderfully sentimental song to a gentle crescendo. The chorus definitely describes a feeling that people in love can relate to; Back broke and dancing, ‘cause you’re here, ‘cause you’re here with me.
So far in 2010, The Swell Season have already clocked up a U.K. tour and an appearance on David Letterman’s show in Radio City Music Hall, New York, where apparently they busked outside to warm up, with Josh Ritter in tow. That must have been great fun!
The list of exciting antics goes on and with this really delightful CD, they now join the shortlist for the Choice Music awards. I will be watching and listening with interest!
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