I used to have a noise rock themed radio show in college. It all began when I picked up a copy of Whip It On, the debut EP from The Raveonettes, at a Princeton record store. It honestly blew my mind. The entire EP was written in Bb minor, and drenched in sweet, delicious fuzz. I kept the CD in my car for months. Numerous years and albums later, Danish band, The Raveonettes, have dropped their newest album out of seemingly nowhere. Pe’ahi is an album as powerful as it is pleasant to listen to.
The Raveonettes have had a lot of time to develop their sound over the years. They started as a noise rock band, moved to a 60s rock style, and eventually to the realm of dream pop. This album combines all of the band’s past styles, blending them into one unique voice they can call their own. It is almost a greatest hits album, but with all new material. First of all, the album is wet with reverb, producing a very relaxed feel. The guitars find a proper balance between soothing and jarring. There is a beauty in the chaos that is heavily distorted guitars. A lot of the drum tracks on the album have a hip hop or trip hop feel to them. Some tracks sneak in a little slide guitar and harp, but they are not misused or out of place whatsoever. The dual vocals of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo shine just as much as when they sing alone.
The Raveonettes never wrote happy songs about dancing in a field of flowers, and they are not about to start. There has always been a dark twist to lyrics from this band, even when exploring topics that should be positive. Lyrical themes cover topics such as Wagner’s difficult relationship with his father, the recent passing of aforementioned father, Wagner’s near drowning experience, and general infidelity. Pe’ahi, the album title, is a popular surfing spot in Maui, Hawaii. The album art features a small, vertical switchblade on a light cyan background. The symbolism here is obvious, and the minimalistic approach of the album art is very much appropriate. Every track shines in its own way on this album but check out “Killer in the Streets” and the first track “Endless Sleeper.” I also find “Sisters” to be an artistically beautiful song.
