The Swell Season - StrictJoy

Thu 12th Nov, 2009 in Music Reviews

The cover art for The Swell Season’s second album Strict Joy has a certain poignancy to it. Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard aren’t facing each other as you might expect, but are back to back, their heads and shoulders woven together as one body. As musicians, both of them could confidently stand on their own, but when they come together there is unmistakable chemistry present.

The Irish singer-songwriter and Czech pianist won over hearts in the 2007 indie flick Once, a love story that might seem like art imitating life if you also consider their real-life romance, which further blossomed between the pair during the filming. For many, the film’s charm was the way it captured that subtle but prevalent bond that grew between two people through the movie’s simple and beautiful soundtrack. In many ways the songs, which include the Oscar-winning piece de resistance, Falling Slowly, spoke louder than the story itself.

What’s remarkable about Hansard and Irglova’s songwriting is how such simple arrangements can evoke so much emotion. Poetic and reflective, their gentle acoustic-pop ballads were tinged with bare-bones melancholy, but with a full band behind them, the result is an album that is much richer, more complex and in many ways more bittersweet. Shimmering string sections and a present beat help to augment the ascending piano melody and airy dual-octave vocals in High Horses, which quietly gallops to one of the album’s most gorgeous moments, a soaring instrumental/vocal chorus bridge section. And although Feeling the Pull could easily fit into any solo acoustic set, the tinkling drums and rolling organ make the song more robust.

Many call this record the – œpost-break up’ album, but they forget that The Swell Season’s so-called – œboy-meets-girl’ debut wasn’t exactly cheerful either. It’s not all about heartache in Strict Joy though; there’s hope, redemption, forgiveness and fate too. The sentiments might seem common, but they are always delivered with a genuine, endearing sincerity, like when they croon “Maybe I was born to hold you in these arms” in the exquisite single, In These Arms.

Hansard and Irglova’s voices perfectly complement one another, especially when they harmonise seamlessly in songs like the gorgeous The Rain and the lilting Two Tongues. One of the album’s highlights, The Verb, makes full use of Hansard’s warm, wistful voice and Irglova’s fragile vocals, especially in the song’s final 90 seconds when more layers of harmonies swell and flourish over the violins in the chorus.

The actual romance may now be over, but thankfully their music bond has endured, and even matured. A significant step forward for The Swell Season, it will be interesting to see where their music will go after this – but whichever direction they choose, at least we know the end result is going to be beautiful and sweet.

Strict Joy is out now through Spunk. The Swell Season play these shows here in 2010.

Thursday 25 March – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Wednesday 31 March – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Thursday 1 to Monday 5 April – Byron Bay Bluesfest
Monday 5 April – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall