It used to be so dfficult to maintain togetherness within a group when the members position themselves in far flung areas of the world. Then the Internet was invented and suddenly things got a whole lot easier. Rachel Staggs and Matt Bartram recorded their music in their respective Texan and English homes, with Staggs putting together the final mix. I would hesitate to call the results “shoegazer lite” but ‘Found’ definitely occupies the softer side of the dreampop genre.
The duo both have a track record; Bartram is a member of Air Formation whilst Staggs has served time in (amongst others) Experimental Aircraft. Staggs’ vocals are - if you can forgive the oxymoron - strong on fragility and I was often left to recall the song-based material of Portal when listening to the melancholic likes of ‘Looking For Light’ and ‘Candles’. The evil-sounding drones employed on ‘Set In Starlight’ indicate a darker sound but otherwise the music is relaxing rather than unsettling. In the case of ‘Time Bends’, for example, the song embodies the essences of fairy tales and lullabies. ‘Lost’, meanwhile, stands out for Staggs’ haunting tones above some shifting, experimental layers of sound.
Key to the success of this mini-album is the melodies underpinning each track; ensuring each song is tied to a solid footing. What comes across equally as well, though, is that Bartram and Staggs clearly occupy a similar mindset and ‘Found’ is a cohesive record that’s perfect for floating away to.
Web Sites:
Distant Noise Records Label and Shop Site
The Static Silence MySpace
Further Listening:
Portal, Slowdive
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