FXRRVST - May XXVI
The powerful dramatics of Toronto’s FXRRVST come
across effortlessly on each of their debut’s nine songs. May XXVI in a way that
will likely prove surprising to many listeners. Matching up the atmospherics of
guitar fueled alternative rock with a strongly melodic character unlike
anything else currently on the scene. They are just as convincing presenting
the lyrical side of their character as they are guitar muscle and their
abundance of both qualities is well defined by a production mix that seems to
coalesce organically rather than as the result of time consuming effort and
thought. The intimacy of these performances is a significant part of their
appeal. Many of the tracks prominently feature acoustic guitar and it
invariably provides a sturdy spine for Matthew Fuentes’ electric guitar
excursions. There’s some flashes of extra instruments, some unexpected, a few
nods to ambient textures, and a willingness to slightly subvert listeners’
expectations about melody.
There’s a classic singer/songwriter feel
surrounding the opener “Road to Nowhere” spiked with a brisk pace and some
unusual rhythms for this kind of material. While there is definitely a sense of
the familiar with this song, Forrest and Fuentes bring a fresh quality to the
style with this song’s character and Fuentes’ lead guitar has some fiery
moments alternating with brief lyrical runs. “Picture Frames” highlights
Forrest’s talent for an emotionally affecting lyric. There’s little question
that her words pick up added force thanks to the superior phrasing she puts to
work in this song and others, but the writing stands on its own as well. “Drown
Me” might not be the most uplifting lyrical fare, but coupled with the closest
thing on May XXVI to a straight ahead rocker, the rather dark sentiments make
for a punchy tune, especially on the chorus. “Tidal Wave” is cut from similar
commercially minded cloth, but it sports its appeal without ever pandering to listeners.
It’s little wonder that Forrest and Fuentes chose this number to be their first
single as it is both representative of the album’s deceptive ambition while
also presenting their accessible musical character in the best possible light.
There’s a slightly elegiac quality to the song
“Lovely” and the slow wind of both the music and Forrest’s vocal accentuates
that vibe, but the following song “Safe House” takes on a much less whimsical
tone and, instead, impresses listeners with a restrained, deeply melancholy
acoustic guitar line whose repetition will definitely stick with listeners.
There’s a basically equal mix of the duo’s folksy, singer/songwriter side and
their rock inclinations on the album’s last cut “Roofs”, but they sweeten the
pot further with an air of daring quite unlike anything else earlier on the
release. This is a restless song, musically, and Forrest’s singing seems
genuinely inspired by its creative energy. It ends May XXVI on the best
possible note and poises this remarkably satisfying tandem for further future
success. FXRRVST (pronounced forest) might seem initially unusual based on
their band name alone, but even a cursory examination of their talents points
to uniqueness of a whole other order.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/fxrrvst
Montey Zike
