Melbourne bases band Brighter Later is another evidence how Australia is a tough competitor on the world’s music scene. The project of Jaye Kranz and her collaborators gave us a refreshing album The Wolves, a brilliant fairytale dreamy story with lots of gorgeous ballades and semi-ballades that sound like lullabies. Jaye was spotted y Martha Wainwraight so she called her on a tour. It came as no surprise since they share sensibility and self-consciousness in female voice. Still, Jaye sings for herself, she sings from her fears and dreams. Loneliness in the first thing you notice in vocal and lyrical character of this author. She is full of emotions similar to Mazzy Star, Joanna Newsom. Slowcore brings out the Low in her.
Lethargy is present and her vocal represents it in the lower register. Everything sound atmospheric and easy, without any pretentiousness, but this music is not for the masses because general population might find it boring. Dreamy, minimalistic. Background sound following the voice sometimes steps in the zone of cliché but vocal and lyrics always overcompensate.
All The World is a beautiful opening track with melancholic story that continues to the rest of the album. Melancholy is a key word for this record because it runs through most of the songs. There is also a subtle happiness that screams in dispersion. The music is self-satisfied, it doesn’t tend to satisfy everyone. It stays true to herself and her audience. All The Great Lakes is the most soft and the most dreamy on the album. My personal favorite is Come and Go, because it falls between Beach House and Mazzy Star. Magnolia is my second favorite.
The end of the album is kind of boring. Such a shame, because it started so good. Another Day and Holy Water might be dreamy but they made me fall asleep, in a bad way. Brighter Later has a good light in its shadows. They have proved that dream-pop songs can be exciting. If you want to hear good music before going to bed, The Wolves is what you are looking for. The Wolves is what you will dream about.
