Soundcheck Magazine review of Procession by And a Few to Break
And a Few to Break
Procession
Relatively Conscious Records
Harold Kushner is cited as having said that "it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending, that haunts our sleep so much as the fear...that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well never have lived." If this is true, then the sometime subject of And a Few to Break's Procession need never have worried. The San Francisco band's lyrics contain clear images of everyday and life-changing events and the people who influence them, as well as more ambiguous plays on words such as "weep on weapons/we pawn weapons", giving us pause as we consider meaning. It's their subversion of a tendency for some music to wallow in our emotions without ever showing that we have learned from the initial drama, however, that makes them so interesting.
Citing so many influences of seemingly divergent natures, including Nina Simone, Converge, Sufjan Stevens and more, it seems difficult to believe that such an eclectic debut album could take you on a journey of such mature nature; but it does. We travel with them, alternately treated one moment to a high-energy post-punk sound, raw vocals that show great potential and stimulating phrases that refuse to give everything away, then suddenly dropped the next moment to a more melodic energy, giving us the chance to absorb the lyrics and take something of the lesson for ourselves.
This challenging road starts personal, recalling past relationships and loss, then moves to a more global position, speaking of rebellion, anger and a severe disappointment in the current political climate. Finally, only getting better with each track, we find ourselves coming back to an inner position of resolve and purpose. Something has been gained from loss, and the teachings were not in vain. The final trilogy, "Procession: Death Becomes You", with the words "death becomes you/when it takes your love/and makes you its messenger", makes the "lesson" all too clear: those who are loved are never forgotten.
- Andromeda Ross
And a Few to Break - Procession - Released December 12, 2006
Procession
Relatively Conscious Records
Harold Kushner is cited as having said that "it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending, that haunts our sleep so much as the fear...that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well never have lived." If this is true, then the sometime subject of And a Few to Break's Procession need never have worried. The San Francisco band's lyrics contain clear images of everyday and life-changing events and the people who influence them, as well as more ambiguous plays on words such as "weep on weapons/we pawn weapons", giving us pause as we consider meaning. It's their subversion of a tendency for some music to wallow in our emotions without ever showing that we have learned from the initial drama, however, that makes them so interesting.
Citing so many influences of seemingly divergent natures, including Nina Simone, Converge, Sufjan Stevens and more, it seems difficult to believe that such an eclectic debut album could take you on a journey of such mature nature; but it does. We travel with them, alternately treated one moment to a high-energy post-punk sound, raw vocals that show great potential and stimulating phrases that refuse to give everything away, then suddenly dropped the next moment to a more melodic energy, giving us the chance to absorb the lyrics and take something of the lesson for ourselves.
This challenging road starts personal, recalling past relationships and loss, then moves to a more global position, speaking of rebellion, anger and a severe disappointment in the current political climate. Finally, only getting better with each track, we find ourselves coming back to an inner position of resolve and purpose. Something has been gained from loss, and the teachings were not in vain. The final trilogy, "Procession: Death Becomes You", with the words "death becomes you/when it takes your love/and makes you its messenger", makes the "lesson" all too clear: those who are loved are never forgotten.
- Andromeda Ross
And a Few to Break - Procession - Released December 12, 2006
posted by And a Few to Break at 11:56 AM
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