The Dears are a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1995. The band is led by the husband-and-wife duo of singer-guitarist Murray Lightburn and keyboardist Natalia Yanchak. Their latest release `Life is Beautiful! Life is Beautiful! Life is Beautiful!` is their ninth studio album and comes out this month.
The album opens with `Gotta Get My Head Right` which feels as if it awakes with a pounding drum, shook tambourine and synth like hues into a sprawling larger than life expansive offering. It almost shimmers at times before veering off with a retro prog like guitar segment and intensive vocalisation before closing this journey with hand claps and harmonies giving it an almost gospel like texture before ending abruptly. The faster paced `Babe, We`ll find a Way` has sophisticated and intricate guitar chords and is an uplifting reaffirmation that if a relationship can be worked through all will be well with the world generally. A wonderful sentiment and desire if feasible.
`Doom Pays` with its steady saxophone shades brought to mind classic early seventies Roxy Music whereas `Deep In My Ways` had a much more rhythmic rolling soulful vibe as it reasserted a deep love and affection of a partner and their significance.
`This Is How We Make Our Dreams Come True` is a more stripped back melancholic cogitative ballad like musing on life. There for me was an almost Morrissey like sardonic contemplation and reflection with `Dead Contacts`.
`Our Life` has a cadenced drum pulse and is delightfully dreamy and wistful with an effusive and unrestrained consistency as it evolves. We have a retro synth feel to `Tears Of A Nation` which maybe hints at taking a dark path, possibly a metaphor on current global difficulties. There was a real feeling of isolation, separation almost remoteness.
`Tomorrow And Tomorrow` exudes an immensity or vastness and appears to be a song of gratitude, recognition, and appreciation for what you have. There`s a similar sentiment to `Life Is Beautiful` which shimmers and sparkles. The interplay of the differing vocals allows an almost divine, gospel like or spiritual ambience. A composition in praise of the continuing exquisiteness of our uncomplicated lives.
The final cut `Don’t Go` is an orchestrated plea or appeal to what maybe the joys of remaining on this mortal coil or possibly something more personal.
`Life is Beautiful! Life is Beautiful! Life is Beautiful!` is a fairly overwhelming listen and touches on the existential question of our existence here on earth, our raison d’être which maybe comes from a certain maturity of age or particular set of circumstances. There`s shades of dark understandably but plenty of light within and ends as a real celebration of why life is ultimately worthwhile. The title with this sentiment shared not once but three times becomes as the band say a celebratory mantra, wish or affirmation.
A sublime and inspiring submission
Rating 9/10
