Con Dolore - This Sad Movie
(Clairecords)
On This Sad Movie, Con Dolore interweaves analog and electronic instruments to make vibrant textures and songs with a big sound. On this album, you'll hear (among other instruments) deep synthesizers, layered electronic beats, distorted guitars, and processed vocals, piano, drums, and acoustic guitar.
With the album lasting about 74 minutes, there is plenty of music to be heard. All songs have a different mood because Con Dolore, as explained in their bio, wanted "to capture the moments in one's life, both joyful and sad, to create the soundtrack we all live by." I think this is a wonderful idea and that Con Dolore did a good job of portraying different emotions, especially with the diverse sounds and instruments they use.
Two of the songs that stood out especially are "Fractions Of A Second" and "Feed Us All." "Fractions Of A Second" has a charming melody. It's simple compared with other songs on the album. There is a xylophone throughout, making its own soft melody and the drums are light and gentle to fit the guitars, which seem to float. The vocals, a boy/girl duo, are more subdued in this song than in others, and they are soothing. "Feed Us All" has prominent synthesizers and electronic drums, which make a full sound underneath the more delicate voices and guitar. The song has a tone and depth to it that's hard to describe.
It sounds like it is mostly electronic, but there is a very warm quality about it. This could be said for the majority of the songs on
This Sad Movie.
The main reason I couldn't get into this album more is because it is so long. As I mentioned earlier, it plays for 74 minutes. With nearly half the songs running well over five minutes each, Con Dolore could have easily shaved at least two minutes off each song to make a more digestible 45-minute CD. They probably could have done this without taking too much away from the songs, as they tend to go on for a while after I have lost interest in them. Also, I can't decide if I like what the singer is doing all the time. Her voice is usually pleasant, and she is a great singer, but sometimes things get a little melodramatic for my taste with these big, piercing, drawn out notes that happen in nearly every song.
The whole idea behind this album is cool, and the songs are put together well. This Sad Movie is reminiscent of a soundtrack in that sometimes, you are very aware of what's happening in the music because the sound is so vivid and intense, and sometimes the music is so subdued it can stir your emotions without you even noticing.
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