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Without Number
CD 2007 | Silber 059 9 tracks, 45 minutes $12 ($14 international, $5 download (256 kbps, ~83 megs)) : More info |
Without Number is Plumerai's
first full length, after various compilation appearances, a MP3 release
on Get Nice Records and their first hrad release; the Res Cogitans EP from
2006. Plumerai seems to be the usual band; guitar, bass, drums and vocals.
However, there are a few touches that certainly make this band stand out
from the crowd. First and foremost; Elizabeth Ezell's vocals. They have
been described as sultry; characterized by arousing passion. Her vocals
are certainly warm and passionate, with a hint of rawness to give it jus
that personal touch. Other points that make this band stand out is the
incorporation of various other instruments (accordion, guzheng, and more)
and the mix up and influences of all kinds of genres. I depicted this as
being 'alternative rock'. While this genrefication (sic) is correct, it's
also an oversimplifiaction. Plumerai's music ranges from ethereal rock
to postrock to indierock with postpunk elements. It's easy accessible,
but also with great depth and alternation for such easy going music.
When I tuned this up for
the very first time, I nearly headdesked during the very first seconds.
My initial thought, and fear, was that this was some indie crap. Luckily
I was disproven really quick. Plumerai's music is by no means your basic
run of the mill, premade and underproduced indie stuff. Instead they take
it to a whole new level, leaving the mediocre slew of bands far behind.
Also when it comes to the lyrics, it's not your basic boyfriend/girlfriend/lost
love and similar kind of songs, which always sound the same and lack inspiration.
Instead, a track like Lavinia is inspired by a play from one of the greatest
writers of all time; Shakespeare. Or the song Iris, which is about a lost
friend, but instead of being whiney about the loss, it's a tribute to the
friend.
But it's not all nice and
cute songwriting on this album. Oh no, on a few occasions it's downright
heavy and instrumental rock, such as the highly entertaining Sin El Lagarto.
Occasionally with the accordeon, which reminded me a bit of the unknown
Dutch Forest Of The Tiny People. Martin Newman's guitarplay fit perfectly
alongside Elisabeth's vocals, and on the other side are the deep and dark
sounds of the bass played by James Newman. Lastly there's Todd Richards
on drums, who doesn't want to show off his skills as much as possible,
but just contributes in the best way to the music, providing the rythms
over which the songs on constructed and find their way into your ears.
In conclusion I must say
that this was a nice experience and introduction to the band. Everyone
who is interested in the alternative side of rock, such as, to throw in
some names from the promotional paper; Portishead, The Cure, Radiohead,
should definitely check this quartet out. Go to the Plumerai myspace, and
have a listen. You won't be disappointed.
~ Chawech, Heathen Harvest
Mainstream indie rock has
had its time to shine in the past couple of years, but much of the genre
is starting to hinder on becoming old news with very similar sounds. However,
outside of the more mainstream radio world there are still plenty of indie
bands finding ways to keep their style fresh enough to appeal to a wide
variety of listeners. Plumerai is one of those groups, combining a rock
sound with drone and trip hop influences, almost like an American bred
Portishead. With catchy, electronic hooks and a large and encompassing
sound Plumerai’s debut Without Number is sure to please.
One might be wondering how
the drone style can be brought into a traditional rock band, but this group
has managed to make it work. Plumerai takes an indie rock style base with
melodic and slower guitar works and turns them into a slow groove via the
implementation of electronics and repetition of various sounds. Though
some drone can seem repetitious to listeners, the combination of repeating
melody coupled with the seductive vocals (which I’ll mention in detail
shortly) work to create a very listenable combination. The instrumentals
also have a distinctive electronic vibe to them, at times almost feeling
like a more rock oriented Portishead.
Vocalist Elizabeth Ezell
has an extremely powerful and seductive voice that helps to carry Without
Number along for the listener. Ezell’s style is very melodic, and always
complements the band’s instrumental style without completely overpowering
it. However, this is not to say that her vocals feel as though they are
in the background. Rather, it sounds as though Ezell is singing with an
encompassing wave of sound surrounding her, which is absolutely perfect.
Without Number is an excellent
album that takes the spirit of rock and adds the encompassing energy of
a drone release, resulting in a release that will hook listeners and keep
them absorbed in its sound waves for quite some time. It may be a little
different and certainly a little more up-tempo than some of the other releases
on Silber Records, but Plumerai’s music is still a perfect fit for the
label. This is one band that is different enough to appeal to drone fans
while still up-tempo enough to appeal to more mainstream listeners, and
that in itself is a dazzling combination.
~ Chris Dahlberg, Cosmos
Gaming
Plumerai is a band from Boston,
consisting of Elizabeth Ezell (vocals), Martin Newman (guitars), James
Newman (bass) and Todd Richards (drums). Silber describes this as a cross-over
between PJ Harvey, Portishead, The Cure, The Cranes, Radiohead and Gogol
Bordello; is that outside the wide territory usually covered here or not?
Ezell's voice is indeed like Portishead, Harvey but also Bjork like. As
far as the music goes, and overseeing my limited knowledge of all the references
mentioned, I must say I thought it was all quite enjoyable. Plumerai play
emotional rock music, even when I don't understand what all the lyrics
are about, but I'm sure it's all emotional stuff (sensing from the way
they are sung), the music is tight, and, hurray, there is also a sense
of experimentalism, allowing other instruments to be part of it, like keyboards
and accordion. It would all make more sense to me if I was hearing this
twenty-five years ago, but even in this day and age I quite like it.
~ Frans de Waard, Vital
Weekly
With their early EP release
in 2006, Boston-based Plumerai had driven up quite the excitement due to
a unique blend of PJ Harvey Style vocals from the husky voiced Elizabeth
Ezell and The Cure style shoegaze/ dark wave accompanying music from band
Martin and James Newman and Todd Richards. A creation that promised more
than the length of the EP could handle.
At long last Without Number
is upon us, Plumerai’s latest release and thankfully still full of the
charm, if not more so, of its predecessor, no doubt in part due to James
Newman’s hand in recording the album and thus allowing the band’s idiosyncratic
use of instruments such as the Guzheng and accordion not to be wavered
for a more mainstream sound. Right from the offset with ‘Home Again’, Plumerai’s
force as an alt-rock/ art-rock (hell call it what you will!) act is almost
palpable, mainly due the band’s ability to strike a complete equilibrium
between Ezell’s to die for voice and the band’s ability to muster up a
brilliant and layered tune or two.
Following is ‘Illuminata’
a track that first marks Plumerai’s desire for using off kilter instruments
within their compositions, case in point; the xylophone, which brings uniqueness
to the track matched only by the constant synthesizer sound warbling in
the background.
But it is with ‘Blues and
Greens’ that the addition of instruments like the accordion provides the
most overt feeling, giving Ezell’s vocals an almost jazzy, Parisian feeling
with which to sway her vocals to the listener smoothly and effectively.
‘Avernal’, while still of
the laid back and chilled out pace of the other tracks, provides more of
a sense of exigency, the band working in unison so that you can almost
feel the oncoming chorus via the tension in the drums and guitar work which
slips easily into a haze of shoegazer like sound with even the accordion
giving as good its gets by the end, keeping up with the speed and rhythm
of the drums.
‘Sin El Lagarta’ while still
using the now well documented plethora of unlikely instruments does so
in the album’s most unusual way. A speedy, care free and anarchistic instrumental
piece that merges sounds that could be roughly defined as folktronica and
dark wave. A strange mix indeed but one that on first listen will have
you wondering if it’s the same band and then eventually enjoying the refreshing
break it creates in the album’s line up.
As mentioned previously
with their EP release ‘Res Cogitans’, as long as Plumerai waned away from
the temptation for a more mainstream sound (and thus a bigger fan base)
then they would find great things with the album later in the year. And
great things they have found indeed. A blend of styles and sound that is
reminiscent of other acts but totally unique to the band in question also.
A signature album that should hallmark a surge in popularity for the group
as well as many new releases to come.
~ Michael Byrne, Left Hip
This Boston quartet has settled
down to the permanent lineup of the Newman brothers, Martin and James on
guitar and bass, respectively, Todd Richards on drums and ethereal chanteuse,
Elizabeth Ezell on vocals, and their second release for Silber, following
the “Res Cogitans” EP from 2006, is a charming, chiming collection of guitar-based
post-rock, with fine nu-gaze trappings. Martin’s guitars soar anthemicly
like 80’s faves, The Chameleons, taking on an almost violin-like sheen
on “Illuminata,” while Ezell’s quivering, little girl vocals add a soft,
yet inquisitive Bjork-like resonance to the offerings.
“Blues & Greens” is
more playful, almost childlike in its immediacy, like a swaying lullabye
with whispered, stream-of-conscious vocals from Ezell and the giddy aura
is topped with a delirious oom-pah band conclusion, complete with accordion
and carnival-like keyboards. The band get a little esoteric on tracks like
“Avernal” and “Lavinia” and matters are further complicated by Ezell’s
occasionally indecipherable lyrics, but Richards’ snappy drumming and the
Newman’s intricately woven guitar lines keep things from deteriorating
into boring, self-indulgence, although at over 8 minutes, the latter track
could use a little belt tightening. But overall, this is another exciting
project from the Silber stables to keep an eye on.
~ Jeff Penczak, Foxy Digitalis
It’s been just a year and
a few months since I heard Plumerai’s exciting EP ‘Res Cogitans,’ and have
since eagerly awaited the bands next release. ‘Without Number’ is the second
full length from Plumerai and it contains five new songs, three of the
four songs from the Res Cogitans EP, and a cover of Remora’s ‘Kill My Way
Outta Here.’
Musically it’s the same
sort of ethereal pop/rock with influences ranging from the indie, Goth,
alternative, and post punk genres, though as I’ve said before I find Plumerai
hard to pinpoint. One thing is for sure, and that is that the new songs
contain the same sort of catchiness and stunning vocal work that was found
on last years EP. Initally I thought the three songs from Res Cogitans
were exactly the same songs, but as it turns out 'Illuminata' has a shortened
intro, 'Avernal' is completely re-recorded and uses some new instruments,
while 'En Vole' is remixed in some parts only. The cover of Remora I like
because it has the same sort of minimal sound as the original although
it sounds considerably different hearing a female sing the words and the
fact that the music consists of just bells and an accordion.
Although a decent recording
it would have been more pleasing to hear eight new songs and a cover rather
than five new songs, three old songs and a cover song. Even so Plumerai’s
second album is good and should be investigated by those that enjoyed their
earlier work or any of the musical genres I mentioned above.
~ Joseph Mlodik, Lunar Hypnosis
A Boston four-piece led in
the highs and lows, Plumerai owes its measured intensity to bassist James
Newman, who gives the band's art-rock dioramas a thick, popping backbone
influenced by dub and British dance. The surface comes equally equipped,
shaped as it is by Elizabeth Ezell, whose tense air could make a whisper
sound like a threat of seduction.
~ Grayson Currin, The Independent
Plumerai 'Without Number'
kicks off with a sunshine summer dub vibe. It's an intriguing listen this
one. It's kind of straight up indie pop with a hint of shoegaze from the
use of effects. The female vocal is very sexy. Even though there are many
elements which are tried and tested it somehow feels fresh. CD only on
Silber.
~ Norman Records
Judging by the two tracks
the band have available for streaming on My Space the band have not diverted
away from their ethereal, sometimes Gothic tinted sound, that was apparent
on their previous release Res Cogitans. If you like The Sundays, The Cranes,
Cocteau Twins and the vocals of Beth Gibbons or Alison Shaw then Plumerai
could be just for you. Interesting and worth checking out.
~ Indie-Mp3.co.uk
After the magnificent 2006
EP, Res Cogitans, Plumerai could go seemingly no higher with their spectrally
intimate, drone drenched rock sound. It was already ideal. An American
version of Portishead — yes, those progenitors of trip-hop on these soils
— helmed by the plaintively enigmatic vocalist, Elizabeth Ezell, the Boston
area band felt like something familiar, like flannel.
Only a lavish flannel. And
one with a terribly garish floral pattern, instead of stolid, masculine
stripes.
This is 2007, a new year,
and Without Number is the subsequent new LP. Transferring many of the tracks
from the Res Cogitans sessions, the new effort feels like a natural extension
of the same. Haunted at its core; wickedly smart; a seamless quilt of warm
bodied tales, there are a scarce few missteps (except the Latin tinged
“Sin El Lagarto” — weird choice) and many more reasons to believe this
is one of the better bands of their pedigree. Plumerai plays slow building
(”Avernal”) Gothic infused (”Lavina”) and familiarly anthemic songs (”Home
Again”) throughout their nine track showcase.
An act to attach devoted
attention to, Plumerai comes from a place where it is always the loveliest
dim autumn afternoon.
~ Erick Mertz, Semiurban
Cartography
When the late ‘70s indie-flavoured,
avant-garde art-rock New Wave blast began to kick in, there were a world
of experimental talent that may have garnered just a few adherents overall,
but it didn’t stop them from being universally recognized by the cultish
respect of those fans, who were clearly devoted. Since, avant-garde-ism
has never really faded away; it just remained underneath the radar.
The music of Boston’s Plumerai
is highly avant-garde with its willingness to merge unusual instrumentation
with unconventional vocals. Plumerai extend their musical reach by
mixing accordion with a shimmering Cocteau Twins-like guitar, or by blending
a Chinese table-like, multi-stringed instrument called the guzheng (seen
in films like Hero), with standard rock instruments. Add the intriguing
voice of Elizabeth Ezell to the depths of their lyrics and you have a notable
band worth paying attention to.
Without Number contains
9 tracks, all adroitly fascinating but never intended for the ears of the
masses. The opening song, “Home Again,” starts off accessibly enough,
making it a well-placed song, a snare of sorts. Once you’re hooked
by the song, with its time-bomb ticking guitars, you are then escorted
through a collection of songs that, at times remind vocally of Bjork and
musically like few others.
The music of Plumerai bears
noting as their style will attract the attention of music fans interested
in music not-by-numbers. I have a devout interest in such music because
it keeps it all fresh but not subscribing to the known formulas of bands
seeking to stay within a box for the sake of discovery.
The real question is…how
much experimentation can you handle? If you can do Radiohead, you
could enjoy Plumerai.
~ Matt Rowe, Music Tap
Plumerai's Elizabeth Ezell
has a persuasive set of vocal chords. If anything, she could pass for a
harsher Kristin Hersh or perhaps a more decisive Tanya Donelly. Musically,
the quartet is an abrasive post-rock, neo-gloom version of some of the
college bands on the circuit in the US during the late 80's. While the
choppy guitars go hand in hand with the rhythmically pounding percussion,
it's the band's use of the accordion and keyboards that they get an A +
for. I want to rave about the release - I really do - but the subject matter
wears me down each and every time. Recommended for those under the influence
of the just arrived colder weather.
~ Tom Sekowski, Gaz-eta
Plumerai are a quartet from
Boston that play a brand of alt-rock/pop music that transcends those genre
labels with well crafted art-rock influences. Reading the promo sheet and
reviews on the band's web site I see references to The Cure, Radiohead,
Portishead and Cocteau Twins, and while I'm not familiar enough with those
bands to comment on the analogies, they probably do give a reference point.
I also see references to shoegazer, a style I am familiar with. There are
definitely shoegazer elements to Plumerai's music. The tag helps explain
the spacier elements in the songs, though I'd say that overall the music
is much richer and more detailed than most shoegazer bands I've heard.
Among the highlight tracks
is "Illuminata", which rocks out but also includes an orchestral backing.
I really like the combination of standard rhythms and choppy pulsating
guitar
that pervades throughout the song. I love the spacey, surreal carnival
motif on "Blues & Greens". Especially later in the song when the band
go even deeper into space, accompanied by a bouncy accordion jingle that
soon devolves into a demented meltdown at the end. Excellent song! "Avernal"
is another standout, taking a basic accessible song and propelling it into
the cosmos. And with its 7 minute length the band is able to stretch out
and really develop the music. Plumerai really rock out, but even when the
guitars are bashing and the drums flailing, there are other bits and pieces
that accentuate the color and character of the music. More accordion, shifting
chordal patterns and more. A nice combination of song and structured jamming.
"Lavinia" is the other lengthier track of the set and again takes a basic
song and does a great job of making it into a virtual construction job.
Elizabeth Ezell's vocals don't dominate the music like most pop singers
do. Instead, she functions in tandem with the music, particularly the simple
yet entrancing and ever shifting guitar melodies. And once again Plumerai
soar into deep space and get ultra freaky, while always retaining the core
song. "Iris" would be a great candidate for radio play. "Sin El Lagarto"
is a little different, being a high energy, frantic paced sort of avant-gypsy
song. Very cool. And with "En Vole" I'm now really diggin' the way Plumerai
incorporate the accordion into their music. It gives the song a traditional
feel, yet all this alternately dreamy and intense spaced out rock is going
on around it. Yeah, this is my idea of pop music.
~ Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations
Le sonorità indie
del quartetto di Boston sono l’eccezione che conferma la ferrea regola
ambient/dark che vige in casa Silber, la label che li ha lanciati nel 2006
con l’EP “Res Cogitans”. L’apertura di “Home Again” promette bene, mentre
in “Avernal”, “Lavinia” e “Iris” riemerge l’unico limite dei Plumerai,
che è un’eccessiva deferenza stilistica verso modelli ormai abusati
come PJ Harvey ed Alison Shaw dei Cranes. Quando prevale il coraggio di
spingersi oltre i confini del genere, i risultati sono più che apprezzabili,
e la fisarmonica suonata a rotta di collo in “Sin El Lagarto” mi fa pensare
che l’ultima parola sul gypsy punk non la diranno i Gogol Bordello. Un
plauso al brano di chiusura, un’intensa ripresa di “Kill My Way Outta Here”
dei compagni d’etichetta Remora.
~ Raffaele Zappalà,
Rockerilla
Che sorpresa un album pop
su Silber! I Plumerai vengono da Boston e propongono un alt-rock venato
di vellutate screziature darkwave e shoegaze. La voce di Elizabeth Ezell
- qualcosa tra Cat Power e PJ Harvey - mantiene l'atmosfera delle canzoni
ben ancorata a terra, anche quando le chitarre prendono il volo senza sentire
il peso della forza di gravità, come nella celestiale “Blues &
Greens”. A metà scaletta i quattro di Boston piazzano gli oltre
otto minuti di “Lavinia”, un condensato di dream-rock che chiama in causa
i Cure e i Cranes. Atmosfere decisamente cupe e romantiche anche su “Iris”,
una delle più belle canzoni dell'album. Altrove i Plumerai danno
prova di sapersi muovere anche tra i ritmi desertici delle musiche di confine
alle Calexico (“Sin El Lagarto”), sebbene i risultati non siano sempre
degni di nota.
~ Roberto Mandolini, Losing
Today
Za?neme nejrockov?jší
položkou ze ?tve?ice novinek – kvartetem Plumerai. Po samopalem vydané
prvotin? a n?kolika net EP vydanými na Silber records p?ichází
po ?ty?ech letech fungování kone?n? ?as na druhou dlouhohrající
desku Without Number. Kytaristy a bratry Martina a Jamese Newtonovi na
obligátní rockový kvartet dopl?ují zp?va?ka
Elizabeth Ezell a bubeník Todd Richards. Plumerai jsou ?tverka v
jemn?jší ?ásti rockového rozsahu indie scény,
jež m?žeme v ur?itých momentech zasadit mezi Mazzy Star (to p?edevším
kv?li melancholicky rozívenému vokálu zp?va?ky) a
The Sundays (jejich sko?ný, v?tšinou krystalicky pr?zra?ný
poprock mi formace p?ipomíná nejvíc). Ob?as zvážní
do polohy raných The Cure, ale p?edevším ve druhé
polovin? p?ekvapí úhybnými manévry všemi sm?ry.
Akordeon a kvapíkové tempo p?inese do hry latinský,
ne?kuli cikánský temperament (p?edevším v Blues &
Greens a Sin Le Lagarto), hlukové zp?tnovazebné pasáže
zase prodlouží Lavinia do osmiminutové délky. Without
Number se na první poslech jeví jako neškodné roztomilé
ká?átko na indie rockové scén?. Po n?kolika
posleších a ostrých seknutích p?es slechy musíme
prvotní pocit korigovat sm?rem s v?tší pozornosti.
~ Pavel Zelinka, Freemusic.cz
Musica che arriva da lontano,
musica immaginifica e che ti rovina addosso come un fiume in piena. Musica
calda e languida come un abbraccio della persona amata. Suoni che Plumerai
articolano con una forte cognizione di causa. "Without Number" gira perfetto
sul lettore cd, nessuna sbavatura e godimento massimo assicurato. Pop-rock
che si fonde in musiche e parole brillanti, il gruppo di Boston patteggia
-leggiadro- piccoli pentagrammi del cuore. Devastando incontrollate anime
e pensieri. Bravi.
~ Claudio Baroni, Musica
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