Music Review

22 November 2008 12:16 BST

Band of Horses: Cease to Begin

Sub Pop, out October 15th.

In a nutshell...

Slow. Folksy. Dynamic. Glimmering. Indie-rock.

What's it all about?

Following the success of their debut, Everything All the Time, and the subsequent departure of founding member Mat Brooke, the remaining members of Band of Horses moved from Seattle to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and set to recording their follow-up, Cease to Begin, in Asheville. Thousands of landlocked miles from the Great Salt Lake, this change of scenery is subtly apparent in their music. Instead of the large Pacific Northwest feel, listening to Cease to Begin feels like being immersed in a snow globe: most of the time is spent watching the leaves fall around a small, picturesque town, but as soon as they begin to settle, everything gets shaken up again.

Who's it by

Putting a different spin on their tender-hearted indie rock doesn't change up the sound too much, though. The guitars still glimmer and crest majestically, and Bridwell's sincere vocals still haunt and echo with ponderous reverb. The trio, Bridwell, Hampton and Barrett, feel more comfortable and relaxed in this album, giving it a smaller and simpler sound than Everything. However, those looking for another Funeral or Weed Party may come away disappointed. Cease to Begin is less about catchy hooks and large choruses and more of a stroll down a country road.

As an example...

"The town is so small/How could anybody not/look you in the eyes/The way that you drive by" - Ode to LRC

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

It will be hard for critics to find reasons not to like this album; at the same time, however, Cease to Begin consciously lacks the flat out pop appeal of their previous album, which may, in turn, decrease the chances of it becoming a mainstream hit.

What the others say

"It is a lovely way to spend 40 minutes - Band of Horses are a band to be grateful for, after all - but it's a bit of a sophomore dip." - Contactmusic.com

"Like a journey that has gone full circle Cease To Begin has truly come home, so just lie back and enjoy." - BBC

So is it any good?

The opening track, Is There a Ghost, sets the album off to a great start, with a slow build towards a solid chorus, followed by Ode to LDC. At this point the album takes a quick dip into two consecutive ballads, No One is Ever Gonna Love you and Detlef Schrempf, which almost takes the album to a stop. But just as you are about to fall asleep to Bridwell's peaceful crooning, we are hit with the folky, clap-along stomper General Specific.

This leads to a textbook indie track, Islands on the Coast, which features crisp high-hats and shimmering rhythm guitar. I don't think anyone could make "woooaa hooooooooo hooooaaah" sound any better. The album then slows again with another country ballad, which you may or may not want to sit through in order to get to Cigarettes, Wedding Bands with the catchiest chorus on the album, light crash symbols, and delicate yet sturdy guitar work. Everything is expertly balanced here. The final track, Window Blues, is a long exhale with a banjo-plucked finish, and you feel ready to fall asleep again.

While Horses have rightly drawn many comparisons with Built to Spill, the Shins, My Morning Jacket, and the Flaming Lips, this album helps them to carve out a space for themselves among the indie scene. In this case, closer to My Morning Jacket than anyone else, but with their own unique take on indie-folk. With the slow, easy pace of much of the record, Cease to Begin is likely to keep current fans, but it is less likely to attract new ones.

7.5/10

Spencer Thanhouser