The name Tiny Vipers suggests to me a punk band or at the very least an indie-rock band, especially when the label releasing the album is Sub Pop. In fact, Tiny Vipers is the name being used by Seattle-based singer songwriter Jesy Fortino and this is her debut full length album.
This seven track LP takes some getting to know. On first listen, it is cold and uninviting but perserverance pays off here. The majority of the songs here are solo, acoustic numbers with Fortino creating sparse repetitive melodies and singing over the top of them with a voice somewhere between Joanna Newsom and Chan Marshall.
The opening two tracks 'Campfire Resemblance' and 'On This Side' follow this formula perfectly, the latter featuring some touching lyrics and a catchy melody. It is on the six-minute 'Forest On Fire' that things really take off. A gentle ballad with a chiming acoustic melody, halfway through the acoustic guitar gradually gives way to discordant white noise which builds up as the song progresses before taking over the song completely. Its an amazing sound and an incredibly haunting effect.
This is followed by 'Shipwreck', a gorgeous, melodic song with lyrics about loneliness but with the hopeful refrain "We want to live 'cause we know that life is beautiful/ Though surreal at times." Still to come is the extraordinary ten minute long 'Swastika' which has three distinct parts, with the noise returning at the end.
This is not an easy album but it will reward those listeners who return to it after the first, confusing listen. Fans of early Low in particular will find the sparsity and atmosphere of these songs a delight. I'm really looking forward to seeing Jesy play live in a couple of week's time. In the meantime, this album is highly recommended.
9.1
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