Elevant - There is a Tide

  by Lisa Torem

published: 7 / 3 / 2016

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Review

Liverpool’s dynamic band Elevant has just released ‘There is a Tide.’ The trio consists of Michael Edward, lead vocalist and guitarist, Hannah Lodge, bass, organist and backin vocals, and percussionist/keyboardist Tom Shand—Shand. The three artists co-wrote all the tracks except for ‘Last Man Standing’, which was penned and performed by Edward. The first track, 'I’m Only Falling Apart’, features wild riffs, outrageous drumming and embracing harmonies. Edward tears his heart out vocally. The instrumental textures grow more maddening at every point, an intriguingly low dirge punctures and punctuates. It all winds down with a fairy tale ending. Definitely epic. ‘Audience’ begins benignly. Edward’s voice gradually grows desperate. “We’ve forgotten to talk/We can only interface,” he interjects. Full-out cacophony ultimately presides. It morphs into a gripping whirlpool of vast emotion. Fantastic call-and-response between vocalist and guitar features in ‘Home is Dead.’ Suburbia never felt so chilling. It grows richer and richer by way of creative transition. “I see you around/I like your dress,” Edward comments. It’s a definitive and delightful non-sequitor which brings to mind Bowie, the Velvet Underground and Zappa. ‘Last Man Standing’ has a clean, acoustic beginning. It contrasts well with the heavy dramatics of the preceding songs. Although the lyric is sparse, it generates tons of emotion. (The reprise doesn’t necessarily add more to the story). “Human greed is infectious,” Edward pounds. On ‘We Eat Our Young’ the band rips through the unorthodox lyric with an all-consuming commitment to the theme and with unrestrained rage. The excellent percussion reigns king. ‘Pink Pond’ illustrates that Elevant has the chops to create singular ballads. It’s fun to hear lead guitar and vocals double on this amiable romp. The story starts out brightly - “Springtime flowers smell like memories” bliss us out but then we’re forced to deal with isolation: “Just enough empty house.” ‘Again Again’ is one more hard-hitting rocker on an album that consistently builds solid momentum. Intrepid Elevant refuses to limit themselves to one or two genres. This song shows how very well they focus on emotional depth. ‘Hand Over Fist’ and ‘Dead Skin’ are gritty, palpable and over-the-top but evocative too. In essence, Elevant’s razor-sharp “There is a Tide’ is a killer.

Track Listing:-

1 I'm Only Falling Apart
2 Audience
3 Home Is Dead
4 Last Man Standing
5 We Eat Our Young
6 Last Man Standing (Reprise)
7 Pink / Pond
8 Again
9 Again, Pt. 2
10 Hand over Fist
11 Dead Skin

Band Links:-

http://elevantband.com/
https://elevant.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ElevantMusik/
https://twitter.com/ElevantBand
https://www.youtube.com/user/Shedlad93
https://plus.google.com/10965255999792