Ed Vallance - Volcano Album Review

rating: 4

Website: www.edvallance.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/EdVallance Release date: 23rd April, 2012 Before we start, let€™s get one thing straight. Ed Vallance is nothing to do with Holly Valance. (Note the lack of two L€™s in Valance.) He isn€™t Australian, isn€™t related to her in any way and thank God, has never appeared in Neighbours. Sadly, he€™s also never had a number-one, unlike Ms. Valance who somehow managed to get an international number-one with that hideously catchy single Kiss Kiss. So, sorry guys, but if you thought this was a review of Holly Valance€™s brother or something then you€™re going to be disappointed €“ but you may have just stumbled across your new favourite artist so stick around. Ed Vallance is a London-born musician who currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. He€™s influenced, amongst others, by Stone Roses, Marvin Gaye, Traffic and Ultravox. Volcano is his second album and the combination of blossoming harmonies, delicate drums and ravishing guitar pyrotechnics ensures that it€™s not only an intoxicating listen but a listen which can be the soundtrack to a rainy grey day, a golden beached sunny day, a meandering bus journey or a bustling party. It€™s an album for anytime, anywhere, but Vallance has also managed to maintain a sense of importance here. It may be an accessible listen but the level of musicianship, and judgment and precision of the arrangements in each track comfort the listener in knowing that the artist they€™re listening to knows exactly what he, and his band, is doing. The album was recorded with the know-how and guidance of veteran producer Mark Ephraim (who€™s worked with the likes of New Pornographers, Joan As Policewoman and Dirty On Purpose) and this also helps the album to no end with a superb, crisp quality that highlights every chord, note, lyric, beat. An example of the musical nous and solid quality that permeates this record is the track, Cowboys and Indians. Lost in the woods and can€™t find our way back home is the line that opens up the track, and Ed€™s gentle, soothing style ensures the line is as haunting as it is deep. The obvious ambiguities that the line contains leaves a thoughtful, yet satisfying echo once it leaves the bare, brittle music behind. The mournful guitar, pattering bass and gluey drums ensure the bleakness of the track is recognised. Famous Last Words plays out like a summer drive on a deserted road. The sound is never-ending and full, especially the blissfully cheerful guitar and the distant yet all-encompassing vocals sit nicely amongst the bass and drums. The sound is sunny yet you know it€™s got to end sometime but that time agonisingly waits €“ much like a summer drive. You know the sun€™s got to go back to sleep but you don€™t want it to. Unfortunately, it ends after 5 minutes but you may just want to press repeat. I did. A smooth, crackling track that utilises the most out of Ed€™s quality vocals. http://youtu.be/YpDH5NgT3Sw South Circular dazzles in its elegance. It€™s a grown-up track that really squeezes the most out of every second. The rhythmical, suave guitar-line resonates its gorgeous tones around the track, allowing Vallance€™s heartfelt vocals to really push through. This makes for a duel between the two, a playfight which is never won because without one there wouldn€™t be the other and they both need each other to survive. They live off each other like a heart needs blood, and the blood in this track is the 3.37 length. Each second is a pump, each minute the pushing of the blood, making for the whole length of the track a body of magnificent work. With an album like this, it€™s only a matter of time before Vallance really gets his name known. An absolute corker that dreamily left my hangover behind and made a grey day seem so much brighter. There isn€™t possibly anything bad I can say about this release €“ it€™s a great collection of understated easy-going pop/indie tracks that leaves an indelible mark and charms you into pressing repeat.