(Photo courtesy of Morgan Williams)
I first heard Magnolia Nelson last August, when they released "Sixteen Holes," the first song on this album, as a single. Immediately drawn to the familiar and comforting dream-pop sound that the band had, I eagerly awaited seeing their live performance. Fortunately, I was able to see them perform twice over the following months, and each time, I saw the band reinvent itself.
The first live performance was at a college art space and, as the set progressed, the music became an increasingly enveloping wall of fuzz and the musicians flailed with a Sonic Youth-esque reckless abandon. It was less nervous and calculated than the single had led me to believe, even without a live drummer. The band appropriately covered "You Made Me Realise", performed well, and I was comfortable acknowledging them as a reputable upcoming shoegaze band.
The second live performance was in a small basement, as part of a mixed-bill show occurring in the midst of a terrible snowstorm. Here, I saw the band strip away the noisy, immense wall of sound and show that they are delicate. Performing as an acoustic duo, this second set clearly highlighted Kyle Coen's pained but talented vocal abilities; once again, my impression of Magnolia Nelson had changed.
True to form, the band's first proper release surprised me again. In short, Self-Inflicted Cruel Advice is charming. Released on Immolation Records, these five songs continue to reshape what the band is capable of. Rather than creating a harsh wall of noise, Self-Inflicted Cruel Advice drapes a blanket over the listener, tucking them in and allowing them to melt into their surroundings. Shoegaze bands have a remarkable tendency to surprise and immerse listeners by experimenting with the different layers and textures within a song; this album's production, noticeably more lo-fi than the single, gives the band precise control over this. The overall feel is soft and delicate, with the fuzz of the instruments more washed-out than abrasive, but even minor adjustments to the tone of a guitar, such as the middle of "Bone From Wire" or the lead in "In Spurts", can completely change the feel of a section. Although I do personally prefer the huge, brain-ripping noise promised by bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Self-Inflicted Cruel Advice is still powerful in how gentle and intimate it is, establishing itself as a promising debut from one of the more interesting new bands in New England.
EDIT: Unfortunately, I just learned that they actually broke up, leaving this album as their first and likely last venture as a band. For shame, but c'est la vie.
OTHER LINKS
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Stream/Download Self-Inflicted Cruel Advice (Bandcamp)
Download Self-Inflicted Cruel Advice (Mediafire)
