Heaven Knows What Time. Vera Ellen

Vera Ellen can be found on this blog since 2021 with her debut single on the Flying Nun label from New Zealand, called 'You!'. With Heaven Knows What Time she releases her third full length album since that debut. By now I'm a fan and it will come as no surprise that her latest album is going down like the word of vicar into the mind of his flock.

During my first listening session, I experienced a slight feeling of disappointment. Heaven Knows What Time seemed a bit more of the same. I soon found this had mostly to do with the familiar sound of Vera Ellen voice. Where the music is concerned things are definitely different, as in richer and fuller.

Just before my vacation I reviewed Courtney Barnett's latest album 'Creature Of Habit'. I noticed how much lighter the album sounded, with Ms. Barnett even using her voice differently in several songs. It is here where the similarities start. While creating her previous album, 'Ideal Home Noises', Vera Ellen was going through a rough patch in her life in a few ways. This was reflected in songs that were bare and rough at the edges. Heaven Knows What Time has dropped the former and enhanced the latter, resulting in songs that are full, often exciting and surprising. Totally opposed to my first impression, in other words. I do not know what Ms. Ellen's mood was while writing this album, but my guess is it was a lot better, as that is what Heaven Knows What Time tells me one album long. Listen to the studio cheering and applause at the end of 'Thaw'. It sounds like someone being very happy with the end result.

The sound on this album for example is far more a band effort, expanding on the indie sound Vera Ellen shared with us so far. This already shows in the opening of the album. 'Spit @ The Sky' starts with two guitars intertwining, but with a luxurious feel to their sound. There's no holding back where the sound is concerned. So, it comes as no surprise when the band joins in at full force, creating an indie version of the light and the shade. Vera Ellen's voice(s) are the cherry on the cake 'Spit @ The Sky' is.

She maintains this level of musicianship with ease. A song may be a little prickly, the melodies jump at you nonetheless, pulling you in to enjoy them fully. Sampled voices come as a surprise but are fun to listen to. Again, they enhance a song, making the album ever more interesting. Another song is slower making the album more varied and thus more interesting. And there is one of the singles, 'When It's Over' with Hemi Hemingway. I already wrote on it, but it deserves a special mention anyway because of its exquisite beauty.

What stays with me most, is the overarching feel the album shares with me as listener. It's totally different from 'Ideal Home Noises', but just like that album it grows and grows on me, allowing me to discover the little extras in the arrangement one at a time. After I've listened to Heaven Knows What Time once again, there's only one complaint left: Vera Ellen is touring Europe (with Aldous Harding) and skips my country. How is that possible!?

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Heaven Knows What Time here:

https://veraellen.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-knows-what-time