ninehertz

Coltaine are steadily building up an impressive body of work, Brandung the latest album that feels more than merely a collection of songs – an event, a multi-sensorial narrative to behold, soundtracked by atmospheric psychedelia with blackened frayed edges and an overcast disposition.

After a gentle gothic folk introduction, one of the longstanding assets of Coltaine makes its presence felt again – those beautifully haunting vocals coming to the fore again. They hold an aura, in a similar manner as Julie Christmas achieves, through the light passages and into the harsher realms.

This is a tapestry of styles, from post-rock to blackgaze and even moments of 80’s North West England post-punk. Folk acoustic songs line up beside world-building psychedelia, mesmeric chanting adding into the vocals styles on display. The instrumental tracks do more than bridge between the more traditionally structured songs – they are vista painting narrative arcs.

The penultimate title track is post-metal opaque through gothic drapes, closing down to almost nothing, before a dramatic folk re-entry full of gravitas is itself succeeded by a gentle ending over several minutes even as it bristles with emotional resonance.

It feels grand, tight in concept, ethereal but with purpose… Coltaine have a confidence to write in this story-telling manner, not looking for standard structures nor the traditional singular high points within or of individual songs – this is an album that feels more like a diary, a story told. Once you click into that approach, that rhythm, it is easily to be transported with it, swept into their world. It is a beautiful piece of art.