Grimes: Visions

Grimes
Visions
4AD/Arbutus Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Grimes takes electronic pop to a different level!

Album Review:
When I rank genres based on what I like it seems that one person computer driven electronic music always slips into the bottom third. It always falls here for me because most of the time I don't hear the hard work or think sweat is involved in an album of this nature compared to a band that puts countless hours of rehearsal time in, strives for a cohesive sound with multiple parts and even the struggle of getting consensus from four or five attitudes seems much more difficult.

So, with that said when I heard this record from one-woman Claire Boucher, aka Grimes - it took me by surprise. Visions is not a record that could just be whipped up. The layered tension contained on its 13 tracks are for real and its intricate happenings, be it hazy looped vocals, floating melodies or the popping beats are well planned and memorable.

This smooth delivery is the strength of Visions as Boucher keeps her somewhat reverb vocal level equal to the instrumentation. Her voice takes turns with her song structures and lets her shine the light on whatever part she wants to highlight at the moment. Her previous records had this same vibe but struggled to maintain a constant focus but now Visions stands out because it keeps pointing you in the same direction.

Visions is a record that can be played over and over and still offers up new moments to the listener. It has a surprise factor to it and an easy likability that places Grimes into an entire new ranking for me as this record is great for all occasions and certainly is Boucher's best album to date!

Key Tracks: "Genesis", "Vowels = Space And Time", "Skin"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Zola Jesus
Esben And The Witch
Cocteau Twins

Grimes Website
Grimes Facebook
Arbutus Records
4AD Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony