The Critical Review
drop-dead
THE VIOLET BURNING
northern records
by A. Canales

For me there's no group quite like THE VIOLET BURNING [TVB].
It is a magical mixture of nuanced textures, fiery guitars, dreamy vocals, urgent
and intelligent lyric, and so much more.

On this latest project the band explores love in its many facets.
Love longed for, love lost, divine love, love found, and more. It celebrates
as well as cries about relationships and all that is involved in love.
Musically we might think of this as art maybe ala PINK FLOYD but there's
lots more here than meets the ear. More edgier guitars with much harder
aspects beyond say THE FIXX and on a couple of tunes I could recall edges
that reminded me of U-2 during their JOSHUA TREE/BRIAN ENO-influenced era.
Of course there's more, like a more recent sense from say DEPECHE MODE or
THE CURE.

There is also mystery with all the electronic aspects but along with
burning guitar sounds that somehow flow together in a very unique way. I
think this approach here bodes well for the theme of the pain, mystery,
angst, and pleasure of love and I really liked the solid lyrics. Somehow the
whole of the songs blends into a solid concept with a spiritual sense that
carries the whole ethos of what 'love' is and does and maybe be.
It is a solid work but I found cut #1 strangely named. It is a great
song but the title "Humm" just didn't make sense. Could have been titled
"i'm breaking" or "listening for mercy" or "guide my way tonight" but "Humm"
I just didn't get it.
(note to reviewer: the artist is allowed to title works as he or she sees fit. in this case the author took the title
from the lyric, "hold me close, humm to me this song..." and then if you listen the background singers actually
humm in low droning bass lines... one of my favorite parts of the recording. now back to the review)

I loved the lyric on "All I Want" and this cut [as
well as others] transported me away to my world of dreams and of love
[unfulfilled] and of much more. The songs are powerful poems and one of the
best was "More."

"Swan Sea" is dreamy, magical, and dramatic and "Eleanor" had me
wondering about who she was. The work "Rewind" was another fine effort and
we still have lots to go. "The Ends Begin" is a fantastic selection and "One
Thousand Years" a magical, mystical and near prophetic work that blends
romance with spirituality and has the sweep of great dramatic poetry.

As I said, THE VIOLET BURNING is a unique group and the performance
here is excellent. Not everyone may go for this type of sound or mood but it
is a welcome addition for those that appreciate an intellectual/spiritual
meld along with great modern sounds. Love and romance and longing blend
perfectly here and the whole production comes off as an artsy success.
Highly recommended!

Copyright 2006 A. Canales Eyeear7@Hotmail.com The CRITICAL REVIEW Service
PO Box 3593 El Paso, TX 79923