Track listing: Waiting, Shapeless, Why Divide, Counterpane, Hawthorne, Forcing a Smile, Running On, L'esprit de L'escalier, Memory, Arrow of Time
Oh how I love rhythmic change-ups that catch me off guard. You know, like in Joan Jett's "I Love Rock n Roll," how you can't just clap on 2 and 4 and be at the right spot by the end of the riff? The first track on Vague Pains' latest album Memory does just that--the booming drums introducing "Waiting" have that beautiful little hiccup that grabs your attention and let you know this isn't going to just be another moody introspective Indie album.
In actuality, Memory is a pretty badass record. "Shapeless" follows the aforementioned lead-off track with an edgy guitar lead that sears itself into your consciousness. "Why Divide" introduces some more math-y styled drums (not an insult; I'm a drummer and I love this shit!). Then "Counterpane" brings its Pop-y energy right at you with some rather challenging melodic textures flowing through the wall of guitar sound.
Vague Pains wunderkind Zachary Lemon has retained the searing tone of his rhythm and lead guitars. How they cut through your headphones is something specific that brings a consistency across Vague Pains' discography. Same with the rich, lush, reverb-tastic vocals that seems to reach you through a musical fugue state.
The title track sets itself apart from the rest of the album. Its bleeps and blips could just as easily be a soundtrack to the outer space sequences in 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's 100% emotive, open to interpretation. An interlude leading into the blistering closing track "Arrow of Time." Lemon infuses "Arrow" with an energy you'd want from the final episode of your favorite streaming limited series. It gives you finality yet also hope and anticipation for what comes next. Will there be a 'next season'? I mean, album?
What comes next is yet to be seen. But what we have now is Vague Pains' Memory. Which isn't actually a memory since we're listening to it now. Quite the paradox, isn't it? Explore it for yourself. Memory and much more can be found at Vague Pains' Bandcamp: vaguepains.bandcamp.com.