| Boston-based multi-instrumentalist Alexander Chen may be but one man, but as Boy in Static, he sounds like the work of a full-fledged band. Violet, his Mush debut, consists of 10 neo-shoegaze tracks that, in terms of sheer compositional prowess and the multi-faceted nature of their arrangements, border on the sublime. Although Chen’s songs generally reflect themes such as love, longing, and failed relationships—themes that betray these tracks as the work of an artist in his mid-twenties—they nonetheless feature solid songwriting that never fully crosses the line into territory marred by maudlin sentimentality. The album opens on a relatively simple note with “First Love,” which is structured around wheezing organ, single-string bass guitar leads, and Chen’s ethereal vocal harmonies. But the balance of the record, by and large, relies on a layering of sonic textures that rivals much of Kevin Shields’ output, both solo and with My Bloody Valentine. Boy in Static’s modus operandi on Violet is to commence each track on a somewhat spartan note, typically around a primitive drum machine beat, and then augment it with additional levels of sonic strata, whether sourced from guitar, cello, toy piano, or various other instruments. Dense washes of hyper-distorted but suitably restrained guitar chords paint much of the album with psychedelic flourishes as well. Despite being clearly modeled after canonical shoegaze artists such as Ride, Slowdive, and Curve, Chen’s intricate, multi-tracked vocal style somehow manages to convey an arresting amount of emotion while remaining fresh. On the other hand, “Without Grace,” a sort of odd man out on the record, keeps the vocal harmonies to a minimum, allowing the nuances of Chen’s voice to stand out, much like Jim Reid’s idiosyncratic vocal mannerisms on early Jesus and Mary Chain material. But what impresses most about Violet is Chen’s ability to sustain the album’s momentum, which never once flags, until the record culminates with the brilliant “Leave You Blind,” an uplifting and cinematic track employing an array of swirling instrumentation that acts as a satisfying, resonant coda to an outstanding recording. Both a stirring debut and a typically impressive Mush release, Violet comes highly recommended. - Grooves |
1XLP/Out Of Print