The Veils – …And Out Of The Void Came Love (Album Review)
The Veils have just released their first album in 7 years, …And Out Out Of The Void Came Love, setting a hauntingly beautiful tone to the year with their long-awaited return.
The English/New Zealand band, fronted by singer-songwriter Finn Andrews, takes us on a soul-searching journey through 15 tracks that are equally emotive, with powerful instrumentation and dynamic arrangements that complement Andrews’ Nick Cave-esque vocals perfectly.
The A-side of the album opens with Time, a song that takes you through a cold, rainy day on the streets of London with its breezy string section and backing vocals of Tiny Ruins’ Cass Basil, a voice that sounds both ghostly and comforting. The lyrics are repetitive, but rather than being tedious, the comparison of ‘time’ to everything and nothing is reflective of the album’s diversity in the interpretation of the listener.
Another standout track of the A-side of the album is Bullfighter (Hand of God), a personal favorite of mine. One of the lyrics reads, “Well now, bullfighter stares right into the sun/One man’s desires, ain’t battles easily won?/Ain’t battles easily won? Ain’t battles easily won?”, displaying the album’s unique blend of intensity, vulnerability, and raw emotion through its heavy lyricism.
We then smoothly transition to the B-side of the album, one that features a number of tracks that experiment with the sounds of classical guitar, a refreshing change that still stays true to The Veils’ impressive musical range.
More specifically, the track The Day I Meet My Murderer is a perfect example of how the mix of tango-like instrumental sounds and lyrics that border the line of spoken word in a Jim Morrison fashion blend so well with the rest of the album. “The day I meet murderer my journey is complete” – what a line! Overall, Andrew’s lyrics are introspective and deeply personal, with themes of self-discovery, redemption, loss, and love.
The album closes with Cradle Song – you don’t really need more than the title to really understand the effect this last song has on the listener. A gentle melody sets the tone of overcoming the emotional range felt throughout the album. The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with Andrews singing “May the fire be your friend and the sea rock you gently/May the moon light your way ’til the wind sets you free”. The lyrics, written by Andrews, Allen, and Marsh, evoke a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for something that can never be regained.
“…And Out Of The Void Came Love” is a powerful and affecting album that showcases The Veils’ raw edge, both in the lyrics and their instrumentalization. For fans of indie rock that are searching for an album that will bring every emotion out of them, this is definitely worth listening to.
Ronnie Efremov
Click here to watch The 13th Floor interview with The Veils’ Finn Andrews
