[rating=3.50]
There are songs of the summer, albums that make you recall springtime or the falling of leaves; Reichenbach Falls, the debut from Ravens and Chimes is most certainly a winter album. Its snowy soundscapes and brushed wind chime keyboards slide into icicle coated glockenspiel, combined with the isolated frailty and indie-yearning of vocalist Asher Lack, the operatic movements play as New York City’s response to the Arcade Fire.
Songs grow out of light beginnings and turn into epics (“Eleventh St.” and “The house where you were born”) and can also dance along piano cliff edges while conducting vocal trapeze (“The Faraway Sound of Cars”) or crack a snare-beat into a crisp pop nugget (“St. Jude in the Village Voice”). There is a sense of variety and exploration here, but the instrumental tracks lack any kind of distinction and should probably be avoided on future efforts, including those tacked onto the end of successful workouts (“General Lafayette! You are not alone!”). A cinematic feel accompanies everything and when the chase scene kicks in like on the opening “This Is Where We Are” and the Built to Spill outtake sounding “Archways.” Ravens and Chimes race to glory, Reichenbach Falls feels exciting, grandiose, messy and adventurous, just like the first time should be.
