I don’t know much about Manon Meurt, and without a one sheet for Unravel, I am flying blind. They’re from the Czech Republic and they’ve been around for about a decade, and this is their first album in six years, produced by Eddie Stevens. Their last album channeled more of the traditional Thames Valley sound, but they pivoted a bit on this album. I am initially struck by a resemblance to the more experimental side of Radiohead’s work. The songs often exceed six minutes and are a deep dive into intense beauty.
The first song ‘Timeless’ is haunting and super cool, with elements of trip hop and prog thrown into the mix. It even borders on post rock in spots, which is all to the good! ‘Peony Garden’ has some neat percussion at the start, with a barely discernable vocal in the backdrop that gradually ramps up, backed by the gorgeous musical tapestry of this trippy tune. ‘Marrow’ follows in spectacular fashion, with some mesmerizing passages. It overlaps the recent work done by another favorite of mine (LOMA). ‘Moonflower’ is next, and it’s simply stunning. The vocals in particular are out of this world, and the accompanying music will have you flying in the clouds. The next song ‘Linen’ features Saracen lute, played by guitarist Kryštof Korčák. It is watery and pastoral, and it will transport you to another spiritual plane.
‘Boy Beneath’ is the shortest song here, and is an entrancing drone. It builds slowly and introduces instrumental layers as it unfolds. It ends on a solemn note and verges on sacred music. ‘Mirrors’ is the coda to this exceptional album and it stretches out to nearly seven minutes. This is the more experimental side of the band, with spoken words interspersed with an insistent drum beat. It is a bit uneasy and they really trot out the works, with multiple instrumental layers complementing Kateřina Elznicová ‘s marvelous vocals. Highly recommended!
