Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
If dreams had a soundtrack, it might sound something like Jakob Battick & Friends. Battick, a Bangor native now residing in Gorham, creates drearily poetic music that is so long and drawn-out, it seems to put listeners in a trance. His latest release, “Heavy the Mountains, Heavy Are the Seas,” encapsulates his spacious sound with four lengthy epics.
He seems to be picking up where his previous band, Mt. Moon, left off. Their folksy work “A Burial In Seven Births” was a perfect predecessor to Battick’s darker and more mature sound. With his latest release, Battick has kept the excruciatingly down-tempo feel, dragging out his songs to the eight- and 10-minute mark.
The opener, “Always Returning / Never Returning” begins with five minutes of instrumental buildup before launching into a melancholy polyphony for another five minutes. The sound seems to spiral down the rabbit hole as Battick growls and howls in breathy, drawn-out choruses.
“Nine Brothers and the Wolf” is the album’s most concise track. Hypnotic arpeggios push this track along as Battick draws out each syllable for the most dramatic effect. His voice will occasionally drop to a demonic growl as he strains himself, only to return to a soft croon.
Generally Battick’s production is exquisite, yet this track does get hindered by some clipping on the bass. Overall, Battick does a great job at embracing any imperfections and letting the more crisp instruments shine through.
Lyrically, Battick has always been a crafty man. “All That Really Lasts” is the most lyric-driven and is probably the best track on the album. In it he wails, “When I’m far and alone / A song can bring me home / Now that everything’s changed / These songs they are my home.”
While most of Battick’s tracks seem to go in one direction, building the whole time, “All That Really Lasts” ebbs and flows. Listeners are able to navigate its sonic peaks and valleys through varied instrumentation. The end is spectacular as well, with a messy, multi-tracked trumpet line thanks to Mark Dennis.
Dennis adds vocals, drums and guitars to the album as well, with Joanna Moyer-Battick and Ryan Higgins adding vocals. Battick’s friends, no matter who they happen to be, always provide a strong supporting cast.
The closer, “A Silent Prayer,” is probably the weirdest of all tracks. It is often dissonant and the drum work is oddly sparse in the beginning. Halfway through, it explodes into Battick’s clearly defined sound. He allows for a perfect bit of feedback just before the first hit, giving listeners an amazing split-second treat before being assaulted.
Battick’s music is sleepy and depressing, but so beautiful. He is a sonic artist who crafts emotional landscapes. “Heavy the Mountains, Heavy Are the Seas” lets listeners enter his twisted world, even if it is only until they wake up.
Bangor Daily News