Together

The New Pornographers’s albums are always a success

The supergroup The New Pornographers was formed in Vancouver, Canada, in 1997 by musicians from various projects. The vocalists are Carl Newman (the formations Superconductor and Zumpano), Dan Bejar (Destroyer, Swan Lake and Hello, Blue Roses) and Neko Case (also performing with Maow, The Corn Sisters and Cub). Lately Case has been devoting time to her solo career, and because of her successful debut album Middle Cyclone tour it often happens that she cannot be on stage with The New Pornographers, so Newman’s niece Kathryn Calder of Immaculate Machine substitutes for her on such occasions. It may surprise you but all the musicians’ tastes are so fitting with each other that all their albums have found themselves among the best indie-releases though they are rather different from each other as the guys do not tend to stop at one and only sounding. So, in 2007 their album Challengers was released to become a turn to a softer and calmer atmosphere, and the new record Together is painting this spring with bright rock colors.

The atmosphere of spring without too much sentimentality on Together

The male vocals marrying female, marvelous live instruments among which violin and cello play an important part, appropriate rock elements inclusions and unusual tune movements make all the compositions on Together simply unforgettable. Starting from the opener Moves you immerge into the atmosphere of rock music in which spring seems to blossom. This feeling of freshness and light continues on Crash Years, and yet rather expressive drums and electro guitars bring all the risk of too much sentimentality to naught. The song Your Hands (Together) is harder, more emotional and built around a very tough riff, while Silver Jenny Dollar is a great mid-tempo composition with funny lyrics. Piano chords have refined a beautiful and gentle song, My Shepard, which gains momentum on chorus noticeably. An unusual metaphor is the foundation of a contagious number If You Can't See My Mirrors, once again in a mid tempo, and rock drums on Up In The Dark are sure to cheer up everyone who for some reason has lost heart. Violins, guitar and piano meet male and female vocals on one of the album’s highlights Valkyrie In The Roller Disco, melodious, soulful and refined with a great guitar solo. The closer We End Up Together can also be considered one of the best moments here for it does not only offer the catchiest chorus on the album but also quite a pleasant rhythm both in singing and instrumentation.

Rock, country and pop music served up with a slight retro dressing

Judging by the album title one can guess that each song on Together is filled with the spirit of unity and love, and on the whole they are in fact like that. Turning it on you will give yourself 12 songs of a never-ending celebration, sometimes reserved and sometimes joyful and sparkling. This album can be listened to all the time and you will not get bored, as there is so much sincerity and soul generosity in it. As for the record’s stylistics, such directions as rock, country and pop music are united on it and all this is served up with a slight retro dressing. Both on stage and in the recording studio The New Pornographers are faultless for several talents at once are united in this supergroup. They often write songs together and never plan who of the vocalists is going to perform this or that composition. It was the same story with Together – one can hear only male and only female vocals on it, both and also some harmonious backing vocals. Add to those most beautiful, almost orchestra instruments and you will get a splendid album, Together, which proves once again that The New Pornographers is one of the best supergroups not only in Canada but in the world as well.