Burn and Shiver

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Title: Burn and Shiver
By: Azure Ray
Released by: Warm
Released on: 4/9/02
Rating (out of 10): 9
Date: 08/05/2002

Easy-on-the-Tympanum

There is a phenomenon I would like to refer to as "Felicity Music." In which the people working for WB dramas pick the perfect songs no one knows and introduce them to the public during prime time television. These songs grasp the whole atmosphere of the drama often better than the screenwriting. Soft, sweet voices singing in the background music (though often made foreground), not only entrap the viewer, but force the viewer fall in love with how soothing it is and empathize with how much emotion is put into each of the songs. The epitome of Felicity Music is the easy-on-the-tympanum pop group, Azure Ray.

Azure Ray is the duo of Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Fink, previously of Japancakes and Now It's Overhead, and Taylor also of Now It's Overhead, have now joined together in Athens, Georgia to create Azure Ray.

The tenderness of their voices makes the emotion and quality of their lyrics come alive. These two females contain a similar sound to Beth Orton and Sarah McLachlan, yet have their own uniqueness. Fink and Taylor singing co-lead but sounding as one, can also bring contrast between the vocals and rich dark sound of their songs. Fink and Taylor's vocals are brought together with the sounds of acoustic guitar strumming and electronic drum loops to bring these songs character and life. Their dreamy keyboards, breathy background harmonies and coronary beats compliment the lush layers of Fink and Taylor's lead vocals.

With my curiosity piqued by these new indie pop, Bright Eyes protégées, I was eager to listen to their dreamy, story-like songs Burn and Shiver brings. Burn and Shiver is full of memories, feelings, dreams and hopes, yet Azure Ray brings them by way of struggle, pain and suffering in their whispering, yet powerful voices.

Burn and Shiver quickly unfolds, beginning with “Favorite Cities.” Mysterious and calming, the track immediately draws you into the story they have to tell. Fink and Taylor's gorgeous vocal line and soft instrumental melody of “Favorite Cities” almost puts you into a dreamy state of mind, but aware of the entirety of the song and lyrics.

Following “Favorite Cities,” Fink and Taylor take the listener on a journey through their next songs. “The Trees Keep Growing” shows that Fink and Taylor have gotten a taste for life and have found themselves swallowed up on pure emotion.

It's funny how you can forget the world outside yourself
Where the trees keep growing and the cars keep moving, without you there
It's funny how you can forget the world outside yourself
When the one who loves you keeps on living without you there

These lyrics tell how we can totally forget about everything around us and even forget about the ones that love us. Things keep going on and the trees keep growing without you.

Azure Ray continues with “Your Weak Hands.” Aching with struggle and grasping with might, “Your Weak Hands” can make you realize sometimes even the thought of someone being there, holding your hand, can get you through anything. “Your Weak Hands” instrumentally is almost haunting, with its slow repetitive strumming of the acoustic guitar completed by sorrowful and somber vocals. Drifting on, “I'm Still Young” contains lyrics of a once had love. The combination of the violin, cello, melodica, innocent vocals and trumpet, make it the album's most bittersweet love song.

All of this in a brief stare
A fleeting glimpse of happiness shared
That made our bodies burn and shiver
As we passed each other unaware
I am not to think of your face, of your name
For when I do, you are there
Lying next to another

A love that once was now is gone, captured into this one song. The things that make us burn and shiver are truly expressed through Azure Ray on this album. The hypnotic and poetic lyrics may seem a little cliché, but Azure Ray isn't like many girl bands who deal with love and loss, they go much deeper with their delivery of their songs. Azure Ray tackles familiar topics, yet makes them painfully emotive. Azure Ray encapsulates and then cradles all of the hurt and emotion that you've never quite known how to express, all with a reassuring whisper that completes all that we lack.

The finale "Rest Your Eyes," is a perfect ending. Happy and hopeful, the guitar jangles a peppy beat, leaving you content as you finish the album. Azure Ray's songs all softly blend and drag together to complete a very well made album.

Burn and Shiver is much in the same vein as their earlier work. Their self-titled debut and their November EP also present intimate and reflective songs with heartache, sadness, and bittersweet love. Burn and Shiver shows Azure Ray maturing and improving the quality of their craft while settling into their familiar, pleasant formula. Even though Fink and Taylor enjoy the darkness of their songs, they also contain a gentle radiance. This album impresses me and it will be enjoyable to see the future work of Azure Ray.

© Copyright CultureDose.com 08/05/2002

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