Twilight Sad: Forget the Night Ahead (CD on Fat Cat Records)

Band: Twilight Sad
Label: Fat Cat Records
Title: Forget the Night Ahead

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Band:Twilight Sad
Title:Forget the Night Ahead
Reviewed By:Lisa Torem
Date Published:06/10/2009

Label:Fat Cat Records
Format:CD
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Kilsyth-based quartet the Twilight Sad released their much acclaimed dbeut album, ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters’, in 2007. Their second album, 'Forget the Night Ahead', finds the band maintaining their gift for melancholy, but in their lyrics and themes reaching wider breadths.

The album begins with ‘Reflection of the Television’ replete with thrashing drums, Andy MacFarlane’s signature thrashing tremolo guitar and an essentially eerie patina. This opener ends quite violently - muddily shrouded in predictably distorted ‘noise.’ According to the press release, “three bass heads were blown up in the process.” You may ask, “Huh, only three?”

The resounding lyric "there’s people downstairs" and the lament ‘heavy, handed soo-uu—oool" contribute to the dark fabric. Not everyone will enjoy the brilliant sadness this group is known for – but I do. Although like with a good curry or aged French Rouquefort, you may need to sit back and take a few serious bites before it’s easily enjoyed and digested.

Caledonian-accented vocalist James Graham has a sombre, yet expressive tone which keeps the album moving along. His distinct ‘burr’ almost adds its own musical edge. The second cut ‘I Became a Prostitute' begins with the line, "There’s a girl in the crowd and she’s bawling her eyes out/If they bleed you dry, we’re taking’ half your tide." The bridge contains a clawingly climactic vocal build that drives the lyrical content emotionally forward.

‘Seven Years of Letters’ has a raw instrumental arrangement and a piercingly sweet melody. ‘Made To Disappear’ heralds,"You sail on your own/we share in the toll/and we’re all alone."

The themes throughout are all definitely of the dark vintage, but you’ve already suited up for this, so it shouldn’t be surprising. ’The Room’ starts off with simple piano which offers a fine contrast to the guitar-heavy predecessors. An underlying bass pattern juxtaposes the vocal line.

The lyrics are worth mentioning as well, "You’re the grandson’s toy in the corner/’cause you’re a handsome, just a clever boy on the border/don’t tell anyone else/you’re all on your own ‘cause you said you failed to care/don’t leave your morals there/and you said you failed to care/do you fall when we dragged her along." Are we referring to a little boy who’s a killer? I’m not exactly sure, but the lyrics make one’s mind ponder.

‘That Birthday Present’ starts fiercely, chaotically and evocatively with frenzied guitar and primitive percussion. The lyric, "Because your birthday’s getting cold/just wishing you could go/’cause we could be much older/if you only did what you’re told", certainly has a great rhythmic scheme, although I’m not sure the dramatic hysterionics match the words.

‘Floorboards under the Bed’ starts with Graham’s acapella observation, "Taken all of our mistakes/ and we’ve turned them into an aeroplane." An unanticipated piano progression stridently tail-gates the mood – it’s very stirring – yet seems separate from the intent of the song.

The closer ‘Interrupted’ reveals "And I won’t feed them/feed them to the dogs again/you are the olive rose/bite down on your pillow" and is followed by "your heart starts beating/beat them in the ground again." Dark, bittersweet and highly evocative lyrics mixed with some sinister nuance makes for a complex, but satisfying mix.

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