Quade’s Review of The Foel Tower: Bristol band explores tensions between industry
The experience of listening to The Foel Tower by Quade is akin to adjusting the dial on an old radio, where the effort of patience and focus is handsomely rewarded. In their sophomore album, the experimental band from Bristol, Quade, takes full advantage of the slow and deliberate progression of their music. Barney Matthews’ mysterious and deep vocals are overlaid with trembling cymbals, resonant bass lines, and bursts of static, allowing multi-instrumentalist Tom Connolly’s expressive violin work to fill the lyrical void.
Departing from the conventional band structure, Quade, like their peers Moin, opt for a more instinctual and organic creative process. The opening track, “Canada Geese,” starts with a gentle acoustic guitar strumming, capturing a sense of intimacy with background sounds like distant bird calls and what seems like the hum of a washing machine. This cozy setting gradually transforms into a powerful post-rock arrangement as Matt Griffith’s electronic elements and Leo Fini’s reverberating drums enhance the sonic landscape. In the midst of this musical journey, Matthews softly murmurs, “Kill them all,” barely audible amidst Connolly’s enigmatic string arrangements.
Drawing inspiration from a variety of genres including folk, jazz, ambient, and doom, Quade’s album reflects themes of the delicate balance between industrial progress and natural harmony. Recorded in the picturesque Elan Valley in Wales, the album’s title references a structure located on the Garreg Ddu reservoir, symbolizing the journey of water to urban centers like Birmingham. Nestled within the tracks are subtle nods to literary figures such as Le Guin, Yeats, and Thomas, as well as enigmatic audio samples possibly sourced from meditation apps and unnamed actors. Despite these complex layers, The Foel Tower is not a concept album but rather a collection of six tracks that navigate through emotional depths, appealing more to the listener’s sensibilities than intellect.
Quade’s music is satisfactorily enigmatic, evoking a visceral response before engaging the listener’s creative imagination. The band’s ability to blend various musical styles and weave thought-provoking narratives sets them apart in the experimental music scene. With The Foel Tower, Quade invites audiences on a sonic journey that transcends conventional boundaries, speaking directly to the heart and prompting introspection.