As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. The Decemberists

It has been silent for years on end, until a few months back when a string of songs were released, more pre-releases than singles, including a song clocking near 20 minutes. It was clear, The Decemberists are back in action. The band around the typical, yet extremely pleasant voice of Colin Meloy returns with an album that seems to grow by the spin. Layer after layer reveals itself. The music is extremely rich and diverse, showing the wide-reaching musicality of the band.

For me my relationship with The Decemberists started with the song '16 Military Wives'. The album 'Picaresque' totally passed me by. On album it was the folk rock opera 'The Hazards Of Love' that kicked it all off. All albums since found their way into my home.

In a way not much has changed. The Decemberists play somewhere between folk and rock, slower or faster, more or less traditional instruments. In most songs Meloy sings a story about a person, like the traditional folk songs used to do. So, why does As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again touch me like it does?

Admittedly, this took a few spins. The relationship slowly grew over the past two weeks, when I discovered more and more in the album. It starts though with that warm voice of Colin Meloy. No one would hire him as the lead singer in a choir, yet he has such a nice voice. With Jenny Conlee's voice behind him things can not get much nicer.

The line up of the band is very consistent. John Moen is the band's third drummer but around for 19 years already. All the others, adding Chris Funk and Nate Query, are there for 24 years this year. They have all been on a hiatus, until the band slowly started its recording career again. Behind the five members any instrument can enter the sound, fleshing out songs according to what a song needs. The result can be the smallest little ballad you can imagine, 'All I Want Is You', to a huge song with horns and saxes like 'America Made Me'.

The start of the album is deceptive. When I played 'Burial Ground' for the first time, everything seemed business as usual with The Decemberists. It all sounds so utterly familiar. (There's nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong.) Don't get fooled though. It took a few listening sessions before I started to hear the richness in the song, the different layers it has.

Promo photo: Holly Andres

The more I listen to the album, the more highlights I discover. It started with 'The Black Mariah' though. This dark folk tune is fantastic and all people not from The Netherlands, heed this tip. When the horns kick in, it becomes as good as the best songs our De Kift has to offer. But then, a melancholy pop song like 'Tell Me What's On Your Mind' is pop perfection. I love the way this song flows. The warm Hammond organ, the clear guitar solo notes, the delightful melody of the vocals.

The pièce de resistance is the final song. The very long 'Joan In The Garden'. Symphonic rock, I already wrote in the single post on the song. Pink Floyd clearly was part of the inspiration, the rocking ending The Decemberists' own 'The Hazards Of Love'. There are two instrumental interludes. They both pick on a longer Pink Floyd composition. The first is a mix between 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' part something and one of the songs on 'Animals'. The second part is 'Echoes'. I'm still trying to figure out whether I like it all or not. 'Echoes' is not my favourite Pink Floyd composition. Parts of it are great though. The whole intro and the finale is all The Decemberists in great form. In the end 'Joan In The Garden' wins out.

As a whole the double album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again is a fantastic album. All facets of The Decemberists come forward in the strongest possible way. Every artist says his latest album is the best ever. How can you not if you want to sell units? Colin Meloy may well be right about As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. This album is so rich in songs, in sound and arrangements, that I am tending towards this conclusion slowly but surely. For now, let's leave it at that I'm very pleasantly surprised.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again here:

https://thedecemberists.bandcamp.com/album/as-it-ever-was-so-it-will-be-again