Port St. Willow’s first full-length album
entitled “Holiday” has left me speechless for several days. I have had this 55-minute
ambient/folk picturesque artwork on repeat, and don’t tend on changing that
anytime soon. This album in three words. Tyrant. Smoke. Motion.
I would describe Nick Principe’s project Port St. Willow to our
readers unfamiliar with his work as the boiling narrative of Youth Lagoon’s
Year of Hibernation sung with beautiful vocals similar to Peter Silberman of
the Antlers, mixed with the atmosphere of a Grouper album.
I would listen to this album from beginning to
end for the full effect, but the first track that stood out to me was “Tourist”, a song that sounds like a chase between a beast and prey. On second listen my favorite track was "Orphan" for the powerful vocals. There are some slower more peaceful tracks such as "North" that build into the more powerful, and that is why I suggest you listen to the album from front to back. I was impressed with the horn and trumpet use, especially in "North", without being too overbearing to the overall track. As of now my favorite track is the "Consumed", lyrics from Consumed overflow with meaning, and will shake you
down to your bones in the most personal way. The pulsating drums coexist with a glass melody in an very well written conclusion.
Holiday could very easily (and very unfairly) slip under the
radar in 2012 with so many great albums being released every month, but it is
clear that Nick Principe is pushing Musical (uppercase m) boundaries forward
within his own construct, and deserves some recognition for one of the greatest
pieces of gut-wrenchingly passionate artwork ever created.
couldnt have said it better myself
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