I should preface this review by saying that I have something called the “Woah Playlist.” The concept is simple, if I love a song enough that every time it comes on I make an audible noise of excitement, even when I know it will come on eventually, then it is the perfect fit to be on the playlist. I highly recommend every person reading this post makes one for themselves because they are life changing. Okay with that out of the way, on to the new EP Holding On, Holding Out by Tall Heights… WOAH
Tall Heights, the Boston based duo, have come a long way from their simple acoustic roots with this bold new EP. The sound has grown complex and almost etherial, with ambient synthesizers and echoed harmonies. A lot of times when a group with a folk based sound tries to up the depth of their music they grow overzealous and muddle it down to a point that it grows difficult to listen to. With Holding on, Holding Out the guys took risks but they paid dividends in the end. The music on this record is hauntingly beautiful and immediately arresting. From the first note of “Spirit Cold” I was hooked and was only let go a short 22 minutes later when the tracks ran out. If I had to find a complaint about this album it is that it is far too short, as EPs often are.
The songs on this record have enough diversity to keep it interesting but do not drive too far off their core formula of strong harmonies and ambient backing tracks to lose the flow between tracks or the listener’s undivided attention. Primarily the music evokes flashes of The Fleet Foxes or The Barr Brothers while occasionally tracks like “Only” have more of a Bahamas feel. Overall the group maintains their originality but their influences come through fairly clearly.
My personal favorite track only album has to be “Spirit Cold,” just instant Woah Playlist material, but you can’t go wrong anywhere. Really “Heirloom” and “Back To Autumn” are very close seconds and have just as much place on that playlist as any others. “Heirloom” is definitely the most stripped down folksy track on the EP, with vibrant, mellow finger picking and some really gorgeous cello, an instrument that seems to evoke self reflection no matter what context it’s used in (please say it’s not just me). There really isn’t a place to go wrong on this record.
Holding On, Holding Out is only a month old and anyone who has not gotten to listen to it yet needs to grab this thing ASAP. For a little added incentive I have generously decided to provide you with two videos, one of their Sofar Seattle performance as well a live in studio performance with one hell of a view. Enjoy!
-Ryan Schmitz
