Solander - Monochromatic Memories (2014) Lossless

A trek into the woods is how lots of horror films begin. Betwixt the trees lurk camouflaged terrors ready to strike fear into unsuspecting hearts. In black and white filter, life is drained of all its vibrancy. Like those spooky spectors and masked maulers, Solander’s Monochromatic Memories sneaks up on the listener with deftness of a movie monster going in for the kill.

The Swedish pop folk band is disarming enough to be affective, but not so much so that their minimalist approach is not impactful. Solander subtlety make their mark through sinking deep into the veins of the listener with needle-like precision; tapping the life blood dry. Solander are blood suckers of the emotional variety.

The title track is the most straightforward track on the album. The simplistic folk sound is carried by vocalist Fredrik Karlsson's mystical vocals. Like a black and white film, this track is soft on depth, but makes up for its lack of vibrancy by not messing around with high concepts. Drawing out deep emotion, like this song does so effectively, is the album’s bread and butter.

“Preludium” brings the album down to a solemn level. Its reserves running low, Solander resort to some low-key, subdued folk. Distorted self-perception through a “rainy filter” clouds the mind. A “black moon” in the sky blots out any glimpse of light to be had in the night of the soul on this dour track.

“Black Rug” slows this sluggishly paced album down to a snail’s pace. Black as coal, the metaphorical heart is taxed to the point of failure. This “coal town” has tracked and treaded its soot all over the rug. No amount of detergent will remove the stains upon this throw or on Solander’s beaten soul.

At this point in the album, Solander has absorbed an inordinate amount of tainted life energy. However, the synthy, clap-happy “Social Scene” serves as a transfusion of mildly positive results. Purged of the bad blood, this track is given life through the variation of synthesized effects combined with tension inducing violin. What have not been changed are the same raw, introspective vocals that give this album attitude and character.

Solander’s subtlety is the band’s winning quality. This album does not beg or borrow any more than it requires of the listener. Monochromatic Memories draws all it requires to sustain its emotional life force. It's this symbiotic relationship between music and the listener that makes Monochromatic Memories an admirable work.