| To say that I was a fan of Damiera's old album "M(US)ic" would be the understatement of 2007. I
enjoyed every last song on it. But a few months after the release of it the band hit a huge snag and
went on a indefinite hiatus. Music lovers and reviewers alike were crushed because this talented
group was surely gone. But a glimmer of hope appeared when David Raymond (lead singer) decided that
Damiera was to be whole again, he rallied three new members to form the new band. I was weary at
first to accept this because yes it was true that one of my favorite bands had reformed, but there
was almost certainly a huge change in sound that might alienate the fans from before.
And when I first got my hands on the record and gave it a full listen I was furious. The
rollercoaster guitars and energy that had driven their first record into top 10 lists for the year
had almost vanished. I had waited so long for a record that was sure to stay playing in my stereo
for months to come, but the change was too much to deal with, at first.
I let the record sit on my desk for a little while after the first listen, while I slowly ingested
the record over the span of a week or two. Slowly but surely the more simplistic guitars became like
a second home and the remainder of the intricate/crazy guitars (driven by David) that were still
around we like the sweet treat at the end of a hearty meal.
David's ranging voice is here and as good as ever. His guitars are what save this album truthfully
and while I wouldn't even count "Quiet Mouth, Loud Hands" in the same league as "M(US)ic," it is
still better than many of the bands out there. This record feels more indie with less
experimentation then Damiera is usually delivering but I still enjoyed it a lot.
So while fans may feel the band has changed too much, just let it sit and marinade in your ears and
it will slowly having you singing along with it in no time. Their sound seems to have matured past
chaotic guitars and while I'm not sure if it was because it was their next step as a band or if the
3 new members just made the music more simple. Either way "Quiet Mouth, Loud Hands" is a good album
for difference reasons then you might think, such as smooth transitions, still a few good sets of
intricate guitars, and the fact that David didn't give up on his dream. So go out and experience a
new Damiera that you may like after a few listens.
~ Pernell
June 19 2008 |
