★★★½
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros have reinvented themselves over the last few years, and their latest album,PersonA, is a far cry from their earlier cutesy, ramshackle, ‘let’s all have a sing-along’ sound.
Recorded in one room in New Orleans, which would have been a feat in itself given the size of the band, PersonA sees frontman Alex Ebert’s powerful vocals take the listener on a journey to a crowded, smoke-filled blues bar in downtown Louisiana. Featuring a number of emotional tracks, such as ‘Hot Coals’ and ‘Uncomfortable’, PersonA cleverly weaves smatterings of gospel, folk and blues. Using tribal drums, trumpets and piano, as well as raw, throaty lyrics, the band’s new sound is, at times, captivating.
Although the album’s mood is relatively dark, it drags you back from the edge of the cliff with catchy, lighter tracks such as ‘No Love Like Yours’, featuring vocals and a toe-tapping melody. There are a couple of lacklustre songs, such as ‘Lullaby’ (living up to its name) and ‘Wake Up The Sun’, but otherwise PersonA pushes the boundaries.
This is the album you should listen to if you’d love to visit New Orleans and get a taste of the city’s darker side, but just can’t get the funds together to buy the plane ticket.
PersonA byEdward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zerosis out now via Community / Create/Control.
