Trapped Animal strike again! This time with the wonderful Neev, who sits comfortably alongside the label’s other releases in terms of artistry, whilst sounding nothing like them otherwise. Ostensibly rooted in folk, although at this point, I’d argue genres are really meaningless given the reach of Neev’s unique sound, you’ll find references to Cocteau Twins, Fleetwood Mac, Elliot Smith, Seafood (at their most mellow), Jeff Buckley and even Clannad amidst the dreamy soundscapes of the evocatively titled How Things Tie In Knots, in places even harking back to the wonderfully creative period when The Delgados’ Chemical Underground label was the label to follow. With haunting arrangements, fantastic production, and brilliantly conceived lyrics all coming together around Neev’s wonderfully versatile voice and charismatic presence, How Things Tie In Knots is a mesmerising album indeed.
The Package
It’s been noted on these pages before, but Trapped Animal Records really has become a byword for quality. Making the most of the album’s lovely, hand-crafted artwork, How Things Tie In Knots comes housed in a slip on sleeve with a plain paper sleeve and 10” insert, providing lyrics and additional credits. The album itself is pressed on gorgeous, clear purple vinyl which looks as good as it sounds.
As always, Trapped Animal have gone above and beyond with the range of options and fans can choose from: Signed vinyl, standard vinyl, CD digipack, and superfan bundle, which includes the signed vinyl, CD, a t shirt, and a tote bag. There’s also a deluxe digital bundle that includes demos, acapella versions of songs from the first album, and high-res images.
The Album
The album opens with the hazy beauty of Dianne, which places the vocals front and centre amidst a wash of gentle acoustic and eerie atmospherics. When the band do fully arrive, the sound opens up beautifully, as Neev sketches out a heartbreaking tale of shattered dreams over a mesmerising musical backdrop. She is joined on the album by a talented and sympathetic band comprising Maria McMillan (electric guitar / backing vocals), Alex Cambridge (piano / backing vocals), Alex Reed (bass), and Greg Sheffield (drums), all of whom share a remarkable chemistry that you can hear unfolding as they weave a musical web around Neev’s wonderful voice. A perfect case in point, the stabbing indie-folk of I Put It In A Frame combines a folky verse with a tougher chorus that pinches elements from 90s indie bands (think Strangelove). It finds the band slipping the leash a touch, with Maria in particular whipping up quite a storm on the guitar, driving the track forward with explosive energy.
That 90s indie vibe remains amidst the heavily reverb-laden introduction to Stubborn Heads, a bittersweet reflection on nature vs nurture, supported by a gorgeous melody that sticks long in the head. Harder still are the lyrics to He Built Himself, which raises the spectre of those whose support and patience silently contribute to success without the sacrifice ever being realised. Yet, once again, the darkness of the subject matter is juxtaposed with a lovely, even whimsical, melody that dances in the candlelight, as Anabel Roberts provides a soaring violin melody that is wholly irresistible. It’s a fantastic, multi-faceted arrangement and an album highlight, thanks to a stunning performance from all concerned. The first side wraps up with the dynamic Keep Low, which finds Greg’s drums washed in dubby reverb as Maria daubs huge, electric splashes of electric colour across the chorus. Taking subtle influences from trip hop and post punk, a touch more electronica and you could imagine it slotting into Massive Attack’s 100th Window, the ambience slowly building to eclipse the band in a sea of echoing noise.
Side two opens with the simple, singer-songwriter strum of There’s Two, which offers a more intimate view of Neev’s vocals, before the band emerge to lead in a chorus that is as subtle as it is affecting. Somewhat more surprising is the bluesy My Own Back, which finds Neev adopting a wonderfully smoky swagger, redolent of late-night bars and candlelit sessions around a grand piano, as the band swirl their individual elements into the mix around her. In contrast, the heartbreaking and heartbroken An Unspeakable Thing shimmers in a pall of aching melancholy, Anabel’s violin echoing the sound of the singer’s tears, as Neev explores the consequences of a relationship turned sour.
With the album close to its end, we get a gentle piece – A Sad Tightrope – which moves between a slow, sparse verse and a lighter chorus; the latter allowing a fragment of hope to emerge, only to be swallowed up by the realisation that the singer is dreaming of something that can never be. It leaves the album to conclude with the bright and breezy Two Equals, a sweet and simple song that concludes with the phrase, “talk to me”, repeated over and over again. While part of a longer lyric, it’s those three words that seem to echo through the mix – one last plea for communication in a world where so much is left unsaid.
How Things Tie In Knots is a beautiful, understated album that somehow conveys the increasing complexities of life without ever resorting to cliché or hectoring the listener. From the astonishing arrangements to the rich, warm production with which Taylor Pollock (engineer), Fi Roberts (mixing) and Izzy McPhee (mastering) imbue the album, it’s a warm, heartfelt record that only gets better with repeated listens. In short, it’s as much a work of art as a record, and an absolute pleasure to review. 9/10
