I reviewed Daniel Land & The Modern Painters’ debut EP at the beginning of 2008. At the time, a second EP was set to swiftly follow but was scrapped so ‘Imagining October’ is their belated second release. Although it’s still impossible not to describe Land’s music as anything other than dreampop or shoegaze, there is a clear musical development here and one which embraces different moods and song structure.
After the feather-light, insubstantial opener ‘Off Your Face Again’, ‘Chagall Repeat’ is awash with the kind of sumptuous guitar effects employed by the Cocteau Twins in the latter stages of their career. However, whilst Land is clearly no Liz Fraser (and frankly who is?) his vocals are distinct and emotional enough not to be washed away by the dreamlike atmospheres of the music. Despite the often-used guitar jangle, ‘Between The Acts’ is enveloped in much darker territory; haunting echoes adding a ghostly tinge to the layered vocals. The similarly troubled ‘The Nights Are Falling’ is an exercise in weird instrumental meanderings whereas ‘Look At September, Look At October’ is suitably mournful and autumnal.
‘Imagining October’ signifies an ambitious step forward for Daniel Land and co. Whether it leads to exposure beyond the usual genre fans is another question but Land and band should be admired for attempting something new when they could have easily stuck with their original sound.
Web Sites:
Daniel Land & The Modern Painters MySpace
Further Listening:
Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, Chapterhouse
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