Review- Anthropocene by Burning House
“The Anthropocene defines Earth's most recent geologic time period as being human-influenced, or anthropogenic, based on overwhelming global evidence that atmospheric, geologic, hydrologic, biospheric and other earth system processes are now altered by humans.”
Burning House sound huge. From the moment you dip a foot in the water you are sucked in by the strong undertow. There is weight, size and considerable momentum to this album.
The tracks are vast and epic sounding. I found the album surprisingly familiar yet exciting. It’s 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, now. How? I’m not sure. I could trace threads of Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, MBV, Smashing Pumpkins, Cocteau Twins, Swans, JAMC even. The vocals breeze over the oceanic backdrops, breathily whispering intimate details into your ears. Although a relatively long recording (“Robinson” alone is 11.26mins), it is easy to get lost in the tracks; riding the waves, being rolled in the depths and surfacing for breath to find the sun still beating down. Lachrymose and jubilant in equal measure. Energising, playful and intelligent.
There is a post rock aesthetic, a shoegaze vibe, a pop sensibility. The songs are really good; anthemic and uplifting. Melodies you will swear you already know, but will not be able to place. The production is apt and integral to the songs, allowing the sheer volume and sense of space to transmit brilliantly. Lead lines that carve into you, bass and drums break and thunder like erupting volcanoes. Wide open spaces, massive looming forces, and tectonic plates shifting. From the opening “Mimosa” (that kicks off a bit like Cherub Rock), you are propelled into Burning Houses’ universe. It is huge, beautiful and filled with rich colour-drenched landscapes.
“If you won’t” is the first single from the album. It so definitely is. I’ve had this stuck in my brain for weeks. A searing lead line and melancholic vocal melody that splice straight into your emotions. Teenage summers of love, lust and rejection perhaps?
There are diversions from the full-tilt however. Midway you have the sultry “Languor” a Cocteau Twins tinged tune followed by the fragile and intimate lo fi “Elvis Monika”. Both a tribute to the band’s control and textural introspection. “Fragments” and “13 Moons” share more reflective chiming intros, but both ending up in very different and interesting places. “Awning” concludes the journey with a powerful surge of pumpkin-esque loud/quiet dynamics and gliding vocal melodies. This is a very singular and well realised album. Everything on here works, the direction is clear, their universe is complete. Well worth a trip.
