By Geoff Topley
What do you expect from a band named Death Vessel? Black metal? Industrial? Punk? None of the above, at the opposite end of the musical spectrum, we find the acoustic wonderment and utterly astounding vocals of Rhode Island's Joel Thibodeau, a.k.a Death Vessel.
I first encountered Joel as the support act for Low, when they played Belfast a few years ago. Unsure what to expect from the name, I was even more unsure what I was witnessing when Joel took to the stage and began to sing, just one man and an acoustic guitar accompaniment. The clarity of the soprano vocals mixed with the beguiling melodies had me search out his debut album, Stay Close.
In the interim time period, Joel has released one other album, but it's Island Intervals that has me rediscover this incredibly gifted and talented singer and songwriter. I have to ask the question now, why on earth is this man not recognised as one of the finest artists currently releasing music? Perhaps this album will change that. Recorded in Iceland with Sigur Ros producer Alex Somers, Island Intervals contains only eight songs, but what amazing songs!
The Sigur Ros sound is very much to the fore with Island Intervals, each track is based upon a bedrock of otherworldly clicking, whirring percussion, acoustic guitars and ethereal instrumentation. A companion album to Jonsi's Go, the Sigur Ros front man also performs on the co-written 'Ilsa Drown'.
Unsure what to expect (it's been a while since I've heard Death Vessel), opening track 'Ejecta' strikes up, whirring, clicking, humming. Then the crystal clear vocals of Joel emerge with an instantly gratifying melody. The tone is melancholic, serious, but strangely uplifting. Shards of fuzzy guitar embellish the track near its closure, an intriguing opening track.
There are occasions of increased volume on the album, 'Velvet Antlers' and 'Island Vapors' are both driven along by propulsive tom tom beats and a greater sense of urgency. The chorus on 'Island Vapors' rushes in on a magic carpet of coo-ed vocals and barely there keyboards.
It's the lighter acoustic songs that really hit the sweet spot on this album though. 'Triangulated Heart' begins with a glacial percussive thud, neatly plucked acoustic guitars and twinkling chimes providing a fluidly immersive backdrop. The main melody is achingly beautiful and extremely catchy, if you can hit those high notes to sing along!
You won't be able to help yourself singing along with 'Mercury Dime'. A wondrously sweet melodied verse quickly leads into the most life affirming chorus, that once heard will stick with you. Like some brilliant long lost 60s classic, the songwriting here is truly outstanding. Again, why isn't this music adorning stereos across the world?
Perhaps the inclusion of a certain Icelandic counterpart will assist in spreading the word. 'Ilsa Drown' has all the trademark sounds of Jonsi/Sigur Ros. His voice meshes brilliantly with Joel's, it's almost hard to distinguish between the two. As you might expect with Jonsi, the lyrical offerings are also pretty indecipherable. Acoustic guitars weave intricate melodies between chimes and itchy percussive flickers, this could easily have appeared on Go.
Standout track 'We Agreed' has the most beautiful, heartbreaking melody. Hymnal and almost one note, it is stunning and envelopes you in a warm afterglow. The bare backing of acoustic guitar and warm keyboard tones is later joined by additional bass, chimes and percussion. Think Simon and Garfunkel on vacation in Reykjavik. If the verse wasn't enough, there's also a hugely melodic bridge section which really highlights the exceptional songwriting. These songs will be just as mesmerising with just an acoustic guitar, the true sign of their worth.
The album ends with 'Loom', beginning with haunting ethereal drifts of keyboards, clockwork percussion, all ticks and whirrs and some lovely multi-tracked choirboy vocals. Then Joel's lone voice appears, set over quiet atmospherics, beautifully minimalist and otherworldly. That was the verse, the chorus repeats, the track had craftily opened with the chorus. An overload of chimes segues into a sublime bridge, a final edict of uncertainty seemingly at odds with the assured sounds elsewhere on the album. There's a feeling of despair within the track but an undercurrent of hope rises up to sweep those fears away.
As is often the case with music this good, I resist the urge to cheat and bury my head in a thesaurus. The superlatives I could find still won't do this album justice. My mere words will never be able to convey the feeling or emotion that Thibodeau injects into his music. In a world full of music utilising production trickery, where people have to have their voices auto-tuned to sound right, it's reassuring to find true talents like this. Not only does Joel Thibodeau have the most incredible voice, he also has the songs to match. Look beyond a band name, for what lies behind might just surprise you.
