-=- SHGZ -=-
* Shoegaze * Indie * Post-Rock * Grunge * Dream Pop * Psych-Rock * Ethereal *
ARTIST..: Memoryhouse
ALBUM...: The Years
GENRE...: Indie
STYLE...: Dream Pop, Chillwave, Bedroom Pop, Ambient Pop
STYLE...: Shoegaze, Synth-pop, Ambient, Indie Surf
YEAR....: 2011
LABEL...: Sub Pop Records
COUNTRY.: Canda
PLACE...: Guelph, ON
FORMED..: 2009
ENCODER.: FLAC 1.3.1 -8 -V
BITRATE.: 730 kbps avg
QUALITY.: 44.1kHz / 2 channels
SOURCE..: CDEP
TRACKS..: 5
SIZE....: 98.80 MB
ACCURACY: Accuraterip / CTDB
URL..: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Years_(EP)
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/memoryhouse/the-years (2010)
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/memoryhouse/the_years_f1 (2011 Remaster)
https://inverted-audio.com/review/memoryhouse-the-years-ep (2010)
https://www.treblezine.com/memoryhouse-the-years
https://www.hhv-mag.com/review/memoryhouse-the-years-ep (German)
https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/memoryhouse-the-years-2-69849
https://sweetgeorgiabreezes.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/quick-review-ep-the-years-by-memoryhouse
- TRACKLIST
1 Sleep Patterns 3:41
2 Lately 4:04
3 Modern, Normal 4:21
4 To The Lighthouse 4:20
5 Quiet America 2:18
Total Playtime: 18:44
Clarity is an odd thing. Subjective and open to interpretation. There is
clarity behind the vocals of Denise Nouvion, contrasting the dream-like
nature of Evan Abeele's compositions. Together they make up Memoryhouse, and
next month they will release The Years EP courtesy Sub Pop Records.
The Years EP is a collection of five beautifully produced song, lucid yet
evasive of reality. From opening track "Sleep Patterns", the listener is
treated to a hypnotic set of songs that filter life through a translucent
haze.
The EP builds from these early moments into "Lately", a song that samples the
mystical melody so beloved in Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind, and on into a early, subtle beats of "Modern, Normal". "To The
Lighthouse" continues with a chill, laid-back beat courtesy Abeele, while
Nouvion adds a melody to match the power in that of "Lately". Here it
climaxes, leaving "Quiet America" for the cool down.
The music of Memoryhouse is soothing; it's that fresh, perfectly-brewed cup
of coffee Agent Cooper enjoys at The Great Northern each morning in Twin
Peaks. It's the moment you awake after a long night's sleep, perfectly rested
on a lazy Sunday morning. It simply makes you feel good.
*
Somewhere between the softness of a bedroom recording session and the
enchanting nature of dream-pop, there Memoryhouse lies. Internet praise
brought forth a rush of attention after last September's The Years EP,
eventually leading to signing with Sub Pop, and the reissue of this
remastered edition. Now, with the addition of two songs, "Modern Normal" and
"Quiet America", this reissue adds to the already haunting chill of the
original, leading listeners down a blissful path that quietly stuns.
The duo of Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion re-recorded each track, giving new
life to old ideas, but keeping the same sobering magic intact. As a vocalist,
Nouvion's crisp falsetto provides plush warmth to the cool wisps of
instrumentals and effects Abeele provides. "Sleep Patterns" is a slow, lulled
opener, as guitars seeping in fuzz swirl with Nouvion's fragile whisper. Her
refrain becomes drawn out and sharp amidst the addition of effects from a
drum machine and the glint of bells. "Lately" continues the trend of somber,
delicate keystrokes, giving texture to a wave of vocals and emotions. Her
tale of heartbreak steadily gains momentum with the addition of distant
strings.
Throughout their catalog, Memoryhouse brings a fresh approach to the use of
vocal samples and effects. Their gloomy mood takes an up turn here, with
"Modern Normal". A garbled vocal sample opens amongst a metallic ring of
keys, setting the stage for Nouvion and additional instruments. The playful
and reworked "To the Lighthouse" opens with a sample of children giggling, a
stark contrast to the shoegazey guitars and dreary piano.
Related Video
Ethereal and composed, The Years is awash in a melancholy gloom that sticks
through the majority of the recording, looming like a single black cloud. Yet
the sadness never becomes overwhelming, rather playing off of Nouvion's
romantic vocals, and the ambient chill provided by effects. This reissue
stands as a new recording, a promising second beginning for the duo.
*
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Memoryhouse are glo-fi also-rans before
even hearing a note-- the Guelph, Ontario-based duo is indeed another
nostalgic bedroom project. Yet Memoryhouse are so chill on their debut EP
they're practically glacial. In contrast to the kinetic early single "Radium
Girls", the songs on The Years offer a less festive take on the past than
many of their sand- and surf-loving contemporaries.
The relatively somber approach works to The Years' benefit, lending it a more
classic, polished feel than other sample-indebted releases. Due to their
limited recording budget and ever-present drum machine, the band may
technically fit the definition of lo-fi; however, Evan Abeele and Denise
Nouvion's ethereal dream-pop hints at loftier ambitions. At times, The Years
plays like a shoegazer record minus the feedback, leaving just the reverbed
loops and frostbitten vocals behind.
Opener "Sleep Patterns" is one such somnambulant gem-- its sputtering beat,
never quite rousing, always purposely lags two steps behind. Further
underscoring the heavy-lidded, dream-like state is Nouvion's eerily
affectless timbre, caught somewhere between a soft coo and spoken word. The
vocals may not be in tune, though they do seem appropriate in their
disconnect from the melody, suggesting a kind of suspended animation. "To the
Lighthouse", The Years' standout final track, continues the EP's lethargic
and oceanic themes but adds an ever-so-slight twang to its gentle ebb.
Nouvion, meanwhile, flattens her tone even further, as she dispassionately
describes the sensation of drowning. It's a testament to her calm delivery
that she manages to make lungs filling with water sound not only serene but
downright seductive.
Belying its title, The Years almost sounds cut short: four tracks in just
over 12 minutes, with one song, "The Waves", acting as little more than an
extended segue. Yet the songs fit together seamlessly, and the fact that a
full-length is planned for May suggests that The Years' brevity is by design,
not due to any shortage of material. Most importantly, the EP clearly sets
Abeele and Nouvion apart from their more amateur peers. The Years may be
awash in nostalgia, but far from inviting unfavorable comparisons, it mostly
confirms that the past was indeed as good as you remember.
*
2010 original release:
Does the name of the fledgling chillwave, lo-fi band sound familiar? It
certainly should, as it references modern classical composer Max Richter's
atmospheric debut, Memory House. "Class" and "simplicity" are two words that
radiate from both Memoryhouses, and I'm tempted to assume that Richter would
be pleased with the association. The homage to one of today's most prominent
neo-classical artists isn't wasted, as The Years EP is a soft, quiet, and
sobering experience conducted by Memoryhouse, proving to be one of the most
nostalgic and evocative releases I've encountered this year. Subtle and
graceful, Memoryhouse uses much of the same devices as a lo-fi pop
contemporary, Beach House, uses; though, to a very differing effect. The
bedroom project is a blissful experience as well as ephemeral, defying its
namesake. By imposing limits on themselves, both musically and conceptually,
Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion's airy EP reaches cloud-like heights.
From an oft-used drum machine, to endless looping, to somberly chilling
beats, The Years uses simplicity to their advantage, even if it's more of a
budget decision than one of artistic direction. Memoryhouse perfects
restraint, and the EP's beauty lies not in melody-laden tracks overloaded
with everything the band threw at a wall. Instead the seductive and monotonic
tenor is most charming. A surreal atmosphere that emits from the hazy aura of
"To the Lighthouse," as Nouvion coos with an impeccable knack for inducing
eyelid-fluttering and head-nodding, sounds perfectly deliberate. It's hard
not to appreciate the levelheadedness of the band's debut- composure is
overflowing from the brim. With spacey nuances and the sobering, breezy
murmur-like vocals, The Years EP is what should be described for every sleepy
hangover.
When "Sleep Patterns" shifts with uneasiness between a stuttering drum
machine beat and uneven coos, it's a little hazy what direction The Years
will take, and not until the last track does the work feels more fully
realized and premeditated. The aesthetic takes a turn for the better in the
closer, a wavey, haunting, and graceful song like no other. With elegant
twangs spread evenly underneath the pacific vocals, Nouvion's tender lyrics
reach a new plane of comfort as she sings of dreams, of houses in the sky, of
continuously drifting slowly and, oddly enough, "His lungs filling with water
from the tide."
Let the serenity of The Years EP wrap her frosty arms around you as she
drowns you in harmonic beauty. The looped melodies create a dreamy whirl of
lo-fi pop to lose yourself in, even if it's for a fleeting 12 minutes.
Nevertheless, Memoryhouse's chill-as-ever EP will either have you drifting
off to dreamy lands of clouds or have you thankful you managed to stay awake
to hear the closing fadeout of "To the Lighthouse."
*
here's something so satisfying about legitimately free music; so unassuming
and honest. So when Memoryhouse announced they were releasing their debut EP
The Years as a free download, I was sated by the knowledge that I no longer
had to hang my head in music-thievery shame and could sleep soundly at night;
I would've made anti-download crusader Lily Allen proud. There's nothing
better than free music - unless that music happens to be pretty darn
stunning. Enter Memoryhouse.
The Canadian duo have a way of making downtrodden nostalgia overwhelmingly
appealing. Rather than making you grab your childhood blanky and have a bit
of a moment in a corner; the lush - often glacial - instrumentals and tender
melodies make you want to embrace all of the emotions life throws at you.
The percussion of 'Sleep Patterns' resembles Death Cab for Cutie's steady
omnipresent beats, and follows in that emotional vein. Despite this, their
melancholy rhythms never teeter on the wrong side of self-pity, and are
thoughtful depictions of love and loss in a way that doesn't have you
reaching for the razors. They unify ill-timed, deadpan vocals and a myriad of
melodic layers with an integrity seldom seen in the indie world. Their mild
electronica is reminiscent of The Orb, layering distorted radio style vocals
over a multitude of ambient loops and heady samples.
Both 'Lately' and 'To The Lighthouse' bring to mind a plethora of influences,
yet in a typical tip of the tongue phenomena I am unable to match any of the
samples and sounds to their owners. I am sure in time I will come to switch
my perceptions and begin to believe that the other bands have taken
Memoryhouse as their influence; that's the kind of authority this EP
commands.
It's hard to pull off lazy as a virtue, but the lackadaisical lyrical beauty
that borders on sounding like they don't really give a toss just seems to add
to their effortless charm. With a reference to Max Richter in your name...
Guys, you had me at Memoryhouse.
*
Reality bores me. If there was some plausible way for me to be lifted from
the crux of life and forever remain in the dream realm then I'd do it without
much hesitation. Call it maudlin, but it's not as though I lead a depressing
or humdrum existence - rather, my subconscious holds the power to willingly
transport me to beautiful, serene vistas; gorgeous plains with ever-changing
scenery, as I openly embrace and dive into the unknown. Unfortunately I can't
convey this through words as they're merely a device - means for trying to
portray what cannot be fathomed. While somewhat confusing and exasperating,
one thing rings true: I love this incomprehensible perspective. Perhaps this
is one of the many reasons why I adore Memoryhouse as much as I do - their
surreal dream-pop sound struck a chord with me. It's something relatable that
draws an otherworldly-like perspective from its listener. An easy listening
experience if there ever was one.
It's the brevity of The Years which makes it such an absorbing album --
nothing overstays its welcome. Christ, the EP's run time is only 12 minutes,
yet it manages to sink in deeply and resonate with the use of a drum machine,
synthesizers, and Denise's delicate voice, layered to gorgeous effect. The
continuous guitar loop driving "Lately" along its lush path was actually
lifted from the evocative drama "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".
Simple, yet very effective, which seems to be an accurate summation of their
overall approach to producing music. Closer "To The Lighthouse" sounds like
it was recorded under water. It's bubbly, light, and above all, suave. The
drum cycles animate it and give it life while a keyboard loop lies thinly
veiled in the background. Even the least enjoyable song "The Waves" shines as
a result of retaining the overall atmosphere with Evan's textural production
and use of beats. It's the one track I always find myself predetermined to
skip, yet every time I let it pass by as a result of being completely
transfixed. These four songs are so melodious that one can't help but be
lulled into a sense of security, free to reminisce in peace.
As this is the only material I have to go off of, it's difficult to interpret
which direction they'll take from here-on, but this much can be said:
Memoryhouse have undeniably crafted something emotionally arresting, which
(for me) elicits thoughts of the fleeting moments pervading my mind
immediately after awaking from a somber sleep. This is for fans of Beach
House, but more importantly, this is for people who enjoy music in general.
Lend 12 minutes of your time to this and revel in its beauty and simplicity,
because as far as I'm concerned Memoryhouse have crafted the best EP thus far
this year.
-=- SHGZ -=-
-=-=-==-=-=-
Dream Pop
is a subgenre of
alternative rock and neo-psychedelia
that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop
melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions,
and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. It often
overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze, and the
two genre terms have at times been
used interchangeably.
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