There are bands who claim to make music, because it just happens. Without further explanations. Tu Fawning from Portland, Oregon are four multi-instrumentalists who are deliberately committed to various influences and who position themselves in what they call »Antique-Dance-Tribal-Gospel«. You can definitely notice complexity and love for detail in their last album »Hearts On Hold« (2010): So much (good) could be found in ten songs, that there was dark drama and masses of ostentatious pathos left in the end. Bombastic. The Haunting-Mystery-Forest is deep and Tu Fawning got lost in it. »A Monument« sounds more focused, more melodious, even though the playful diversity of sound structures is still audible. The whole thing is not too heavy and indissoluble, though, which is mostly thanks to the increased use of synthesizers. Tu Fawning mix driving contemporary spookiness with staginess according to Brecht, they mix kraut-rock-y guitar-interruptions, Blues and a pinch of World Music. This sounds good all together, but mainly works in its reduction – in songs with a central theme, which shine simultaneously fully and clearly (»Anchor«, »In The Center of Powder White«). But when it all comes together, it comes close to acoustical maltreatment (»Build a Great Cliff«). All atmosphere is destroyed by the break, so that even Corinna Repp’s otherwise lovely timbre strains the nerves of the listener. Unfortunately, this happens more than once. Great songs are being held back in their development and impact within the holistic album. The rock the album is named after stands obstructively in the way and seems a little too bulky to be floating lightly above it all.
A Monument
