Promise and the Monster
Transparent knives
Imperial Recordings
There is often a saturation point with music for me. I can only own so many 'types' of albums - lonely, rambling narratives of singer-songwriters, the dancefloor-bound energy of a new generation of post-punk bands, the aural nostalgia of the 80s throwbacks. The first few moments of Promise and the Monster's "Transparent knives" had me nearly pigeonholing this album as another longing, echo-laden proclamation of emptiness and lack of direction. Luckily for me, I pushed on, returning over and over to examine the strata of guitars (not completely unlike José González's deft finger work) and accompanying instrumentation, Billie Lindahl's fragile, beautiful voice soaring easily over her dreamscape compositions. Had I not already submitted my Top 10 of 2007 list, "Transparent knives" would at the very least warrant a 'notable mention' spot there, if not a proper place. An absolutely masterful album that is at home with comfortable isolation as it is with desolate, sorrowful artic wastelands, whose guitar work is as poetic as Lindahl's unique voice and lyrics, unveiling new layers through repeated listening, and, more often than not, leaving the listener awestruck and hopeful instead of disheartened or darkly introspective.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
