ALBUM REVIEW: catharsis – Covet
Typically operating in the math rock subgenre, COVET, the San Francisco trio fronted by virtuoso Yvette Young, are often seen as making nerdy music for music nerds. Indeed the noodling guitars and confounding time signatures that they have come to be recognised for will scratch the itch of guitar geeks everywhere, but there is much more to COVET than technical accomplishment. On album number three, the three-piece step out of their comfort zone, and in doing so they’ve produced their strongest record to date.
After hitting play on catharsis for the first time, one could be forgiven for not even realising this is a COVET record. On opener coronal, the group fully embrace their shoegaze influences, with a grunge sound that owes a debt to emo innovators like SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE. Rather than go for fretboard wizardry, the lead guitars sway and swoon with heavy distortion creating an immersive wall of sound. This opener also sees one of the few implementations of vocals on the record. Known primarily as an instrumental project, one can see the logic of keeping the vocals light but as those who’ve sampled Young’s solo work will know, there is a fragile beauty to the frontwoman’s vocals that are sadly hidden by the heavy effects draped over it on this track.
Next up is lead single firebird, which is much more typical COVET fare. Clean guitars dance over lively grooves making for a track that is as technically intriguing as it is uplifting. Credit must be given to bassist Brandon Dove, whose chunky basslines really complete the carefree vision of this tune.
Like a bucking steed alluded to in the track’s title, bronco rocks hard, with crashing symbols that accentuate the rollicking, uplifting melodies. vanquish, by contrast, is slightly more relaxed, with airy, reverb-laden lead guitar lines that flow lazily from one melody to the next with effortless finesse. On the back half, the track builds to an exciting crescendo, marked by drums that roll and crash like a tidal wave, stylishly completing one of the most dynamic songs on the record.
Vocals are softly reintroduced on the ethereal interlude, a gorgeous piano-led breather that heralds the start of the second half of the album. And what a second half it is. smolder crackles with red-hot energy as Jessica Burdeaux’s drums come to the fore. This stomping rock song sees the grunge and emo influences appear once more as Young’s emotive guitar work sets the stage for some delicious drum fills.
As the title suggests, merlin dials up the magical vibes as violins combine with mathy guitar work to transport the listener to a dreamlike fantasy world. Stabs of heavy chords break the spell, reintroducing the dangerous, dark themes that are ever present in COVET’s music. Before we know it, we arrive at the closing track, lovespell. Like fleeting infatuation, the clean guitar leads rise and fall, drifting and waning with melancholy flair. On the second half, we are treated to a sublime saxophone section courtesy of MINUS THE BEAR’s Alex Rose.
Like the fleeting fantasy the band paint with their songwriting, catharsis comes and goes in what feels like a flash, leaving the listener in a melancholy daze and yearning for more. The eight tracks are packed with so much experimentation and fresh sounds that it’s hard to complain about length when what’s here is of such consistently high quality. If this album indeed represents a rebirth for the band, then we reckon there’s a whole lot of life left for them to live.
Rating: 9/10
catharsis is set for release on April 7th via Triple Crown Records.
Like COVET on Facebook.