If you’re looking for a sleepy, mundane listening experience… well, the latest album from The Stanfields is probably one you’ll want to stay away from. Classic Fadeout is highly concentrated and bursting with chaotically fun energy with just six tracks.
The Stanfield’s Celtic influences are immediately apparent on “Southlands”, the first track. The inflection of the vocals, the swell of the fiddle, the epic imagery – it’s all coated with a touch of that rock edge that the band establishes as their primary sound.
It’s also not a sound you should get too used to. While each song is made up of generally the same building blocks (there’s only so many genres you can push without becoming a concept album) the way the band arranges them is a pleasant surprise with each passing track.
Sometimes it even happens through the course of a single song. The album’s lead single, “Breakers in the Dark,” is a constant flux of tempo and rhythm, with frontman Jon Landry’s voice cycling through levels of vulnerability with ease. It’s an enigma of a song. The rhythm is infectious, but it also has this underlying ache that will leave you wondering if you should be bobbing your head or contemplating life’s complexities.
The closer we get to the end of the album, the more things seem to fly off the rails – in the best way possible. “Rules Have All the Fun” is a contradictory title, since The Stanfields clearly had a blast putting this track together. There’s a special energy here that’s lacking from the other tracks, from the vocal embellishments to the jazzy instrumentation – kazoo and all.
The group is considerate, and they do give as much of a breathing break as they’re able. “Laser Beam,” falling roughly in the middle of the album, is the soundtrack for a midnight breakdown if there ever was one. It outlines the need to keep pushing forward even when life is dragging you back. It’s a unique metaphor that summons a lot of emotion – one of many on the album.
That uniqueness is the main thing that makes The Stanfields so appealing. They’re able to bring a familiar, approachable sound while being as far from generic as you could get. A lot of heart goes into what they do, and Classic Fadeout makes it highly apparent.
Show Dates:
02.08.20 – Halifax, NS @ The Marquee Ballroom