While his newest, Vestiges & Claws, doesn’t undertake any significant departures in style, additional layers of guitar and vocals subtly evolve his minimalist catalog with warmer and richer tones.
In his own words, this record is 'less minimalist' than In Our Nature, and it's true that the whole sound of this album is far less bleak than its predecessor - much warmer and fuller.
Although Vestiges & Claws may wander close to guitar-based, folk-rock homogeny, González’s musings offer a cerebral reminder to enjoy figuring out what it all means.
Unlike on his first two albums, González twists the volume knob up just enough here to sonically divert Vestiges & Claws from its predecessors (or bedroom pop pioneers Nick Drake and Elliott Smith).
Vestiges and Claws is simple on the surface, mostly composed of González’s voice and guitar with occasional percussion drifting in, but González makes these miniatures immaculate.
Vestiges And Claws is wintertime music, full of dark chord progressions and haunting melodies from the 36-year-old songwriter.
Even when Vestiges & Claws exudes strain, González never gives the impression of truly challenging himself. When he draws on the canons of both ancient philosophy and post-punk, he sounds like José González.
Intricate fingerpicking backs up his soft vocals; melodies flow without urgency; vague but evocative lyrics drift to the surface. González's lyrics focus on aging and the inevitability of loss.
Fans of "Heartbeats" may be disappointed to find that Gonzalez's third solo record, Vestiges & Claws, his first solo set since 2007's In Our Nature, houses some of his least tuneful material to date.
For a musician who has produced output of such a consistently high-standard for so long ... it seems like he may have finally let a natural sense of complacency sneak its way into his creative process, which is a real shame.
Vestiges and Claws is a succinct evolution for José González and his solo work, an album that promises much more for the next stage of his career.
González continues to tweak his original formula on Vestiges & Claws, but does so in such a way that it still retains the uncomplicated honesty that is embedded in his music.
There’s nothing at stake on his latest Vestiges & Claws: instead of coming equipped with an arsenal of ideas, gathered from many years of experience, he lapses into a confusional state that’s often misinterpreted as deep or contemplative.
A few good tracks but over all a big disappointment. I'm surprised he didn't already redeem himself with another full-length follow-up, since the reception to this one was so lukewarm.
el culto que la música puede darle a la vida. Lean mi reseña en http://ganymedemyth.com/sin-categoria/jose-gonzalez-el-culto-la-vida/
The playfulness of the guitar from the get go, the smoothness of the voice, the claps and the finger snaps, they’re all contributing to a beautiful relaxed feeling which transmits to the listener. It's a very nice album that commands silence.
Favourite tracks: Ink of a Ghost, Open Book, Leaf Off/The Cave
A bit less consistent than his earliest work, I thought this album had a pleasantly more varied tone. Songs like Let It Carry You and Leaf Off / The Cave are sublime and delightful, while What Will and Every Age include more of his broad-sweeping introspection. The length runs a bit long, and some songs are mid, but it's still solid.
A few good tracks but over all a big disappointment. I'm surprised he didn't already redeem himself with another full-length follow-up, since the reception to this one was so lukewarm.
1 | With the Ink of a Ghost 5:18 | 70 |
2 | Let It Carry You 5:34 | 70 |
3 | Stories We Build, Stories We Tell 3:25 | 60 |
4 | The Forest 3:20 | 70 |
5 | Leaf Off / The Cave 4:53 | 80 |
6 | Every Age 3:10 | 60 |
7 | What Will 6:27 | 50 |
8 | Vissel 3:44 | 30 |
9 | Afterglow 3:42 | 50 |
10 | Open Book 2:40 | 40 |