Throughout the seven gorgeous, baroque-folk songs from Boston outfit Mutual Benefit’s proper debut LP Love’s Crushing Diamond, the music can be described in a number of simple ways: loving, patient, warmhearted, and unfailingly hopeful.
Some adorably cutesy (yes, it's cutesy) indie folk that recalls Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, Sigur Ros/Jonsi (occasionally) and most obviously Foreign Fields.
It goes down easy, like a spoonful of sugar stirred in water.
This album has some really special orchestral qualities to it. Some of the compositions are remarkable. My main drawback is the vocals. High-pitched, drowned out, and a little whiny, they work within the aesthetic, in a way, but I just wasn't a fan personally. A unique and very admirable record though.
1 | Strong River 3:00 | |
2 | Golden Wake 3:16 | |
3 | Advanced Falconry 5:05 | |
4 | That Light That's Blinding 4:03 | |
5 | "Let's Play" / Statue of a Man 3:36 | |
6 | C. L. Rosarian 5:40 | |
7 | Strong Swimmer 7:09 |
#41 | / | Pitchfork |
#48 | / | Consequence of Sound |