ALBUM: Rose Windows ‘Rose Windows’

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Seattle psychedelic rockers Rose Windows announced the end of their musical journey at the end of March, but still left behind a little gift for their loving fans in the form of a nine track self-titled album. Though perhaps its direction feels lost at times, this goodbye release is fittingly pensive and uplifting, celebrating the bands unusual approach with an eclectic mix of styles and sounds.

The album opens with some transcendent laid-back rock in the form of ‘Bohdi Song’, which sings of Buddhist enlightenment through a kaleidoscopic array of intoxicating sounds. What follows in ‘Glory, Glory’ is rockier and rougher, but moves into something a little odder with some sweet flute, eerie sound-effects. Both these tracks, however, present a similar problem. Their words seem almost trivial and fail to catch the listener’s attention. Though stunning in sound, lyrically these tracks do little for the imagination.

The band compensate for this, however, with a little old fashioned soul through ‘Blind’ and ‘Strip Mall Babylon’. Both provide a little bit of funk and soul with a thick rocky twist and utterly intoxicating female vocals. Unlike earlier tracks, what we have here is a stronger voice and even stronger lyrics. What we hear envelops us in their decadent world and seduces us utterly.

Indeed, this bands forte seems to be seductive and enticing. The track ‘Aurora Avenue’ could open a spy film with its smooth yet creeping sound and beguiling vocals. As the album ends and Rose Windows gradually becomes no more, the mood of the album slows and becomes more thoughtful in this bands final tracks. ‘A Pleasure To Burn’ and ‘Hirami’ both share a similar quality in that they are steady and solicitous to the extent of being therapeutic. The soft female vocals and cut-down acoustic accompaniment forms an emotive goodbye from a truly unique band.

Rose Windows is out now via Sub Pop Records.

Eleanor Langford

Eleanor Langford

Eleanor Langford

Probably drinking coffee and late for something.
Eleanor Langford

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