Vetiver - "The Errant Charm"

Artist: Vetiver
Album: The Errant Charm
Label: Sub Pop Records
Release Date: June 14th, 2011
Review by: Sean Kayden

The fifth album from Vetiver is a strong showcase in music progression. The Errant Charm is a concoction of solid songwriting, lush melodies and washed-out aesthetics. There’s an innate charm and allure to this record. It’s the ideal compilation to be playing while lying in one’s futon on a hazy sunny day. Since that’s the case, little work is required for one to soak up the tunes, “Worse For Wear” and “Hard To Break”. Such beauty and blithe best describe the aforementioned songs. The Errant Charm will take you on a journey without ever realizing you were actually on one. It gently guides you to serenity. There are rarely any surprises with Vetiver, but they constantly deliver what you want and possibly need. However, tracks like “Ride Ride Ride” and the closer, “Soft Glass,” slightly weave off the road a bit. Despite those minor calamities, you’re still left with an accessible album that has considerable depth.

“It’s Beyond Me”, the lengthiest track from the album, starts things off in a promising fashion. It’s definitely a suitable preview to the adventure you’re about to embrace. However, it’s the few sequential tracks that standout from the rest. As I previously mentioned, “Worse For Wear” and “Hard To Break” are dazzling in every way. These songs either symbolize relationships on the fade-out or receiving second chances. “Fog Emotion” is a leisurely sort of tune that has the aptitude to put one in a reflective frame of mind. The spirit of the song is both tranquil and insouciant. While it may be the simplest tune off the album, it’s the one to put you in the best kind of mood no matter of any type of darkness trying to enter your life. “Faint Praise” feels a bit out of place on this particular album, but there’s no denying its stunning beauty. It’s an airy, atmospheric, and ambient track that’ll have you become lost within your own thoughts. It’s a deeply satisfying dream song minus the requirement of needing to fall asleep to experience the vivid imagery discovered within.

The Errant Charm is an undeniably strong demonstration of effective lyrics accompanied with breezy and swirling arrangements. It’s not a masterpiece by any measure, but the record effortlessly displays Vetiver’s most admirable strengths as a group. There’s definitely a lot to enjoy here if this type of music persuasion is your thing. It may not fully captivate one entirely, but the superior songs off the album will certainly ease your distressed disposition. Even if it’s only temporary, it’s still more than what most songs can do these days.

Key Tracks: “Worse For Wear”, “Hard To Break”, “Fog Emotion”, “Faint Praise”
Grade: 8.0 out of 10

Published on July 2nd, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n27/p12.htm