Olympic Symphonium - More in Sorrow than in Anger

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 21 / 3 / 2009

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Although they’ve recruited a good few friends to flesh out the sound on this, their second album, 'More in Sorrow than in Anger' is still very much the sound and vision of the Olympic Symphonium's three band members, Nick Cobham, Graeme Walker and Kyle Cunjak. All three contribute to the song writing and play guitars and keyboards as well as providing vocals throughout the album. Knowing little about the band apart from the fact that they are Canadian and share a number of musical projects between them and wanted to, under the Olympic Symphonium banner, create music that is more subtle and gentle than they have previously produced it would appear that they have succeeded. Having not heard any music from their other musical projects I can’t confirm that these ten songs are, in fact, cut in a mellower mood than their other work but it is hard to imagine a lusher, calming collection of songs being issued this year. With quiet, almost whispered vocals, the songs, while not being laboured, are certainly not in a rush to reach their conclusion and if that makes it sound like the album could be heavy going then the opposite is, in fact, true. The songs are immediately accessible, something that is rare when an album is taken at this slower pace. Albums like this are a treat when they come along which is far too infrequently. Almost impossible to pigeon-hole, the trio cover a lot of bases through the ten songs. The opening instrumental, ‘You Win Some, You Lose Some’, which is surprisingly just Cobham on guitar and Cunjak on piano (how can just two instruments with no vocals convey so much?), while not sounding remotely anything like the Beach Boys recalls the power and emotion Brian Wilson used to employ in his instrumental pieces around the time of ‘Pet Sounds’. Instrumentals that talk are rare in pop music in these times. The following song, ‘Intentions Alone’, is the first time we get to hear those hushed vocals, with Graeme taking the lead impressively and although the trio are helped out on this song by four other musicians the sound, while still retaining that lushness, is thankfully uncluttered so that the catchy guitar lines that really do make the song are never lost in the mix. The next couple of songs follow in the same vein ; slow, melancholy in feel with the vocals being sympathetic to the fullness of the warm instrumental backing but then with ‘Blood From A Stone’ the band throw you off course a little. While ‘The Note’ had the affecting but subtle addition of lap steel and ‘Side By Side’ being boosted by the electric slide guitar of Jason Vautour and took the band in yet another direction, Dale Murray’s pedal steel on ‘Blood From A Stone’ really does push the band into a genre that is totally unexpected. With Walker turning in his best performance on the album, brilliant vocal support from Catherine MacLellan and Cunjak’s superb upright bass playing this song could have been a highlight on any Flying Burrito Bros album or at the very least it will appeal to any Eagles fan. An absolutely superb performance from all concerned and worth the price of admission on its own. Occasionally the album takes a slight dip and certain songs do take more than one listen to really shine, ‘Dead Man’s Inn’ is a typical example; with Cobham taking the lead vocals this time; his vocals, although still verging on being whispered, have more of an edge to them than Walker’s but it’s the backing vocals from Rose Cousins that add a sinister feel to match the sole guitar. It’s an atmospheric piece for sure and worth sticking with but not as instant as many of the other songs. One thing this album did do was have me reaching for my old Red House Painters albums; every time I hear ‘More in Sorrow than In Anger’ I am reminded of that band which is not a bad thing. This is a Sunday morning album; a take it easy and take it in collection that brings more rewards with repeated playing. It’s a very impressive collection of songs and I, for one, will be keeping an eye and ear open for any future releases by the Olympic Symphonium.

Track Listing:-

1 You Win Some, You Lose Some
2 Intentions Alone
3 The Note
4 Side by Side
5 Blood from a Stone
6 Malleable
7 Dead Man's Inn
8 Travellin' Song
9 Oh Dear
10 Through the Day

Label Links:-

http://www.forwardmusicgroup.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/user/ForwardMusicTube

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