When a CD comes packaged in what can only be described as a work of art, then you can imagine the contents being similarly rewarding. Such logic, of course, does not always hold true, but where artists take such pains to present their music in a stunning light, it is hard not to warm to the artistic ideal of what they are trying to do. Vinyl Floor’s album, ‘peninsula’, is one such album. Packaged in a digi-pack with a thick, stunningly illustrated booklet, it is the perfect example of what bands can do when ambition and motivation align in the right way. Happily, the musical content is of a similar standard, and Vinyl Floor offer up a warm progressive experience that draws upon numerous inspirational acts to offer something that is emotionally charged and intelligently written.
Opening side one (Utopia) with the multi-layered ‘frames and orchids’, elements of Pink Floyd and Arcade Fire abound on the track, doing a grand job of grabbing the listeners attention (refusing to let go until some fifty minutes later when the album spins to a halt), before the piano-led ‘ghost of England’ introduces a sound that unexpectedly combines elements of the late, lamented Strangelove with hints of Blur (via their music hall period) and the Smiths, with even a touch of Genesis thrown in for good measure. No one makes music like this anymore, and Vinyl Floor’s obvious dedication to their art makes this a truly unique listen that does much to reference the past whilst looking toward the future. ‘What lies ahead’ sees the guitars bought more to the fore, the band opting for a crunchy indie sound that bristles rather than burns, whilst Thomas Charlie Pederson’s voice rings out from the heart of the mix. The band’s progressive influences are much more evident on the folky, beautiful ‘written in the cards’ which draws together the musical and lyrical splendour of The Oysterband covering Caravan, with the Vindla String Quartet adding a rich depth to the track that threatens to leave tears in your eyes. Remarkably, the band aren’t done with the listener yet and the almost unfathomably wonderful ‘car in the sky’ captures that perfect sense of childlike wonder when you could spend hours staring at the clouds, trying to make your friends see the pictures your imagination wove before your eyes. It is sublimely beautiful and perfectly complimented by the rolling thunder of Daniel Pederson’s drums on ‘the diverging path’ (a track which the talented drummer also provides vocals for), which rises form out of the previous track with its Procul harum –referencing organ drawing comparisons to ‘Whiter Shade of pale’ as covered by Strangleove, with the song blazing out in a sea of heavily reverb-drenched guitar, thus concluding side one.
Side two showcases an entirely different sound with ‘force you through’ recalling the vintage rock ‘n’ roll styling of the hives with its heavy riffs and pounding rhythms before the lush sounds of ‘in the air’ roll into view like a musical fairy-tale sung by Morrisey. ‘Baton rouge’ is a quiet rumination on the regret of age as it asks “did you seize the day?” a question that many may find themselves asking as they realize their young lives were spent living vicarious lives through Facebook, mobile phones and computer games, handled with characteristic aplomb and sensitivity by a band whose rare ability is not so much to know when to play as when to act with restraint, thus allowing their often beautiful compositions to breathe and flood the senses. ‘Dumbfounded’ sees the band pull out the stops for a rock track with an irresistible melody before ‘king of Dystopia’ drifts into view, once again highlighting a sensitive sound worthy of Procul harum set to a melody of regret and loss that is almost painfully close to the bone, Vinyl Floor showing an unerring ability to tap into the listener’s dormant emotions as their beautiful music surrounds you in a warm, comforting balm. ‘Frozen moon’ offers a piano-led coda that closes the album with a flourish that leaves you feeling bereft as silence descends.
It takes a special band to be able to produce music that nourishes the soul in the way that Vinyl Floor do. This is music that taps carefully into feelings of nostalgia and loss but which leaves you feeling refreshed and once more aware of the beautiful world that exists beyond the self-crafted barriers of the work-consume cycle that makes up much of modern life. Music such as that found on ‘peninsula’ may encourage you to pick up a guitar long left standing in the corner; it may encourage you to visit friends or family long ignored or it may simply encourage you to turn off the blinking lights of modern media and reflect in silence upon the wonders you have just heard, but ultimately it fires the imagination in a way that so few bands successfully do. This is beautiful, melancholic and yet uplifting, imaginative and inventive music that reminds you exactly why music is such a revered art form in so many parts of the world. It is not an album for every day or every occasion, rather it is an album to treasure in those rare moments alone; an album to drift softly away to, the walls of reality eroded by the blazing power of the imagination stimulated by the wonderful music that is contained on this humble plastic disc. If you love music and revere its power to stimulate the senses then ‘peninsula’ is an album you simply must experience.
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