AND THE GLASS HANDED KITES

Mew hasn't been accepted by Prog Archives for a while now (i checked last week to review 2 of their albums , but I couldn't find them, until now, typical proggers) So I have to review this from memory. This should be quite easy because this is an amazing album.

Mew are the only band that I can say are able to encapture the beauty of Sigur Rós, and put amazing high ranged vocals over them (Jonsí from Sigur does sound like a whale), but Jonas has the most unique voice ever. His amazing canon like contapuntal harmonies sore around your head and don't get out unitl weeks later. And this album is absoultely the most figurative of their back catalogue.

1. Circuitry Of The Wolf - An amazing oddly timed jazz instrumental with oddly timed rhythyms and clangy guitars. Perfect start.

2. Chinaberry Tree - Quite dark and edgy, but with beautiful harmonies and melodies. Jonas really displays some lovely performances.

3. Why Are You Looking Grave - A bit like Chinaberry Tree, quite dark and edgy. J Mascis' vocals are very gravey (pun on the title :)) make the song alot more intresting (and it already is too intresting). The chorus is beautiful and catchy.

4. Fox Cub - A very beautiful interlude. Very soft and gentle.

5. Apocalypso - Incredibly addictive and great vocals. Another great song.

6. Special - Proabbly the most catchiest song on the album. Great harmonies and an amazing chorus.

7. The Zookeeper's Boy - If not one of, then defienetly the most beautiful song ever made. Jonas siren like chant is incredibly soul moving. It makes me cry every time I hear it. The amazing contrapuntal chorus is amazing and the amazing harmonies in the verses and the links and the intro is incredibly effective. One of the best songs ever made by humans.

8. The Dark Design - Amazing mellotron intro. Very dark and mysterious. One of Jonas most laid back songs for pitch.

9. Saviours Of Jazz Ballet (Fear Me, December) - Amazing song, with great hypnotic vocals. The instrumental at the end is amazing and very effective.

10. An Envoy To The Open Fields - The intro is very Duke Special. Another song with J. Mascis on it. This is probabbly one of the most happiest songs on the album. It very cheery.

11. Small Ambulance - Just a short instrumental. Reminds me of music from and advert.

12. The Seething Rain Weeps For You (Uda Pruda) - Very Klaxons like intro. Great song with great jaunty moments. The song ends with a Sigur Rós inspired xylophone excerpt.

13. White Lips Kissed - Another beautiful song. Very sad and haunting. Very creepy as well. Great melody throughout.

14. Louise Louisa - Cathcy hooks, and great melodies. The end is incredibly hauntingand very soothing.

CONCLUSION: Definitly one of the best albums ever made in my opinion. There is nothing boring about it, every song is as good as the other, the links between the songs are enjoyable. The lyrics are weird and don't seem to make sense, but it's more about trying to make the listener think up his own story. Very beautiful ideas presented and great catchy hooks. Mew are the equivalent of a hybrid between The Flaming Lips & Sigur Rós (in my opinion)... so what's there to loose. Go out and find this album and buy it, it's worth every penny.

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