Pale Young Gentlemen – Black Forest (tra la la)

Science of Sound

Based on their name alone, a first time listener might expect the Pale Young Gentlemen to evoke their compatriots from the North of England—such as The Smiths or Joy Division. However, Black Forest (tra la la) is not a guitar-driven record and may have more in common with powdered wigs and Mozart than Morrissey. Pale Young Gentlemen (which includes three ladies) write dense, orchestral pop songs. A cello, violin, and viola create the band’s baroque-meets-indie-rock feeling.

The tracks are dark, moody, and whimsical—the strongest being the album’s opener, “Coal/Ivory,” and “The Crook of My Good Arm,” which rely on heavy percussion to build and maintain momentum. “Kettle Drum (I Left a Note)” showcases Pale Young Gentlemen’s talent of writing chamber-oriented pop. While not quite as over the top, the epic theme of war, betrayal, and stifled passions running through Black Forest (tra la la) echo the conceptual shenanigans of Arcade Fire, especially with Michael Resenauer’s quavering lead vocals.

Despite careful songwriting, the album’s energy begins to fade as the middle tracks dissolve into quiet strumming and Reisenauer’s lead vocals lean toward a deep, monotonous drone. This feels like a disappointment after the fuller, more developed tracks.

Though the majority of their compositions thirst for greater dynamism, Pale Young Gentlemen have delivered a refreshingly unexpected independent record that lives up to its name. Black Forest (tra la la) is mysterious and mythical, a place of myths and fairy tales that is more than a little sinister.

Review by Eleanor Whitney