How often do you chase a dream, only to be disappointed when you finally get it and find that it isn't what you thought it would be? The familiar adage of 'be careful what you wish for' then hits you in face, as you begin to regret your choices. This is a theme that often appears in popular music, as it affiliates itself well with wistful dream chasing and the longing for something better.
New York based duo Chairlift do some dream chasing of their own in their latest release Moth: a synth heavy dream-pop journey through the prospect of being drawn to someone, or something (Hence, the moth analogy), only to be ultimately disappointed when things aren’t as beautiful up close.
This theme is best illustrated in the song 'Moth To The Flame', obviously. Throughout this shiny
disco-house-pop track (think Everything But The Girl crossed with Haim), vocalist Caroline Polachek explains how she's drawn to the song's subject, even though she knows that this could be a mistake, “I should know better than to take your love letters to heart/ When the game's already lost before it starts” It's as if she's aware that she's on the brink of her own cautionary tale. This theme is echoed in the album's flagship single 'Romeo'; an up-tempo number where Polachek declares “Romeo, put on your running shoes/ I'm ready to go”, suggesting that the literal chasing of her dream/ love-of-her-life is of Shakespearean proportions, and is therefore ill fated.
Moth also highlights the more delicate and intimate moments in the pursuit of love. For example, in the gentle ballad 'Crying In Public', Polachek bares her soul to the song's subject, “I'm sorry I'm crying in public this way/ I'm falling for you/ I'm falling for you”, which underlines the emotional core of this cautionary tale. Polachek delivers these vocals with a wonderful fragility, which really exemplifies the sentiment.
It is important to note that Moth is structured in such a way that tells this story effectively. This not only enhances the lyrics but also breathes life back into the very idea of an 'album', which has sadly faded in the modern instant-online-music-streaming age.
Chairlift's most recent release isn't exactly the happy-ever-after love story one might be looking for. It is, however, a sugary, yet bitter-sweet, account of how the fairy tale image of love isn't worth pursuing, and is ultimately shrouded in pain and regret. If only there was a well known phrase that could sum up this message…
No comments:
Post a Comment