The
Manifestivus – Ethereal Delirium (Independent)
They’ve only been together for a year, but Richmond,
Virginia’s The Manifestivus seem to have got their act together extremely
quickly. Their debut album “Ethereal Delirium” is an assured, confident
collection with a well-defined ‘band’ sound. The group formed around the
talents of singer-songwriter-guitarist Bryce McClellan, and although his songs
are placed firmly centre stage, the rest of the band, Tristan Dougherty (bass),
Alexander Lee (violin), Clifton McDaniel (guitars) and Brian Wiltz (drums),
play their socks off, creating a supremely calm, chilled, indie-psychedelic
setting.
It’s an album that seeps into the consciousness.
McClellan’s songs appear at first, almost too slight, too delicate to register,
but rather than dismiss them, the urge is to care for and nurture them.
Essentially, to really listen, and the rewards are forthcoming. Indeed, he’s
got plenty to say and he delivers with the gentlest of melodic barbs, which
repeatedly catch.
They set the tone on opening track “Astonishment” –
guitars chime, a sweeping violin colours the spaces, and McClellan’s hushed
vocal, occasionally double tracked, unfurls the tale. “My Thoughts and Their
Spores” releases a classic West Coast country rock influence, without
compromising their core style, and it’s just wonderful. Later tracks “Cosmically”
and “Sink in the Mood” seem a little more strident and emotionally wrought, and
provide even more depth to an album that already far too easy to drown in.
Rob F.
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