Photo: Colm Russell
REMY is delighted to premiere the debut album from Dublin alternative electronic act Woodheart, The Last Astronaut, which officially releases tomorrow, 8th of February. The brainchild of Ben Shorten, he has previously released two single from the album, opener 'Radar', and 'GMT'.
In Shorten’s own words The Last Astronaut is; "A collection of 10 tracks, each a
standalone short story - sometimes dark, sometimes sad, sometimes funny -
interwoven to create a kind of overarching narrative. It's a cross-breed
between a bedroom and a studio album, with the studio parts recorded with Joe
McGrath in Hellfire Studio, Dublin. Sonically it's a combination of acoustic,
electric and electronic instruments with an emphasis on atmospherics and
shifting textures. Inspirations include Edan, Grandaddy and Bill Calahan."
The album's curious nature reveals itself without delay on 'Radar', as Woodheart's sombre vocal engages in self-reflection, a slow and
erratic build starts to grow in focus, acoustic guitar wanders side by side
with carnival-esque electronic sounds. I'm very fond of second track 'Metronomics', there's a contradiction in feeling, a breezy air balanced
against melancholic tones, folk elements are strong too, and in some places I'm
reminded of Conor O'Brien. The relaxed float is very enticing, coupled with
Shorten's poetic lyrical delivery, the wide expanse of sound truly opens up in
the final minute.
The album's title-track takes us far back into the past,
from a 1920’s cabaret intro, up to Greenwich Village circa ’65, even taking in
a very Gallic scene via the strings. The dramatic inklings of Woodheart are in
full flow here, it's like a psychedelic drama on the theatre stage, filed with
cartoonish characters of varying levels of (in)sanity. The Irish-language 'GMT' is the most unfettered moment of optimistic brevity we’ve encountered to date,
slipping between very bare instrumental sequences and warm uplifting electronic
passages.
From the tender tones of 'Magic Eyes' we reach 'Saboteur' another slow build, so restrained in fact, that the journey across this song
has a subtleness that the listener can miss until it's too late, the glowing
electro hum flickers stronger and brighter, almost immeasurably so, here
atmosphere is key. It’s back to the carnival on 'Tread Softly' which nods to
the quirkiness of The Divine Comedy’s Casanova
album, unsettling in a welcome way the track is a strong example of the
slightly dark and sinister humour that underscores much of Woodheart's
song-writing. It would be an understatement to say that The Last Astronaut is unique, an at times dizzying array of themes
and moods converging together, and then falling apart, only for Shorten to
piece them expertly back together once again.
https://woodheart.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/woodheartmusic
