In the first song, "So long pleasant bay", the tempo is slowly built-up, with nostalgic piano and synths fusing. Far off, we hear the singer’s voice. The song gathers speed in a seducing manner and when finally we hear clearly the singer he coos to us to “stay a while” with multi-layered vocals.
In “The Ukrainians”, the themes of nature quickly bring on mental images of vast fields. These fields are unfortunately, at times, occupied by unbalanced melodies. Although interesting to listen to, the music feels like a jam session and the song feels incomplete.
“Six O’clock Whispers (version)” follows with lighter techno melodies. The sounds are fine and carefully placed, creating a sometimes too mechanical sound.
Vitaminsforyou seems to still be searching for his style, jumping from unfinished melodies to rigidly structured sound.
"Being Away Fame (A Song for the Xenophobic)" feels like a light drizzle on a summer day: lovely, refreshing and melancholic. The music delicately drops into the ears. This is about the time that I have the same kind of epiphany that I had when first listening to Postal Service; this is probably a record that will stay with me for a long time, because it hits somewhere deep inside.
In “I think I know that kind of feeling”, the music slowly rises. It’s as if we have stepped into the studio, where the musicians are prepping their instruments. The album feels really intimate thanks to this kind of detail. There are also interludes, that are presented as phone messages from collaborators Ghislain Poirier and Emm Gryner, that help create a whole universe to the CD.
One of Vitaminsforyou great strengths is creating music that carries a message with almost no need for lyrics, like in the track “Wishing I lived near water”.
The album ends with interesting aerial techno tracks like “Cross-Crab Apple tree” and “It’s not the brown that makes your eyes pretty”, which fail to be as poignant as the more folksy multi-layered songs.
Though sometimes lacking focus, this is a great album that you can really sink into for its upbeat, intimate and melancholic mood. You can also appreciate it for its well-constructed tracks and interesting sounds. This album reveals a great artist with a wide spectrum of sounds who is able to play on subtle emotions through the sheer force of his music.
