The For Carnation - On The Swing

The For Carnation
On The Swing
Marshmallows (1996)


For Carnation, the new project of Slint's guitarist Brian McMahan, followed Gastr Del Sol's route to subtle dynamics and wasteland-evoking soundscapes on two EPs, Fight Songs (1995) and the superb Marshmallows (1996). They refined the art of low-key, sparse but nonetheless complex compositions to the point that For Carnation (2000) betrayed virtually no emotions, just illusions of emotions.

Brian McMahan is one of the fundamental figures of the 80's rock scene, busy keeping together the glorious Squirrel Baitat first, as the prophet of the most influential band of the last ten years, the Slint, later. Helped by the Tortoise, he brings to life For Carnation who release an EP. Months later, the line-up has changed completely. The music is what you would expect from Slint if they were still around: the subsonic bellow feeds from pauses, not sounds.

The majestic Marshmallows (Matador 1996), with its six complex compositions in key minor, shows through the weight of the band's potential. The dreamy ballad of On The Swings , the delicate Romanza by piano of Marshmallows, the tiptoed waltz and the light crescendo of Salo stand as a masterpiece of repressed emotions. The culmination of their desolate and grieving dramas, close relatives to those by Tim Backley or by David Cosby, is maybe found in the set up, all shadows and hints reminders of Winter Lois, between haggard baritones, tinkles of chimes and industrial noises. The only passionate moment is the pressing dissonant raga of I Wear Gold in which the Velvet Underground of threethousand is revealed. The long, plotless trance Preparing To Receive you closes the record, as boring as waiting to die on a deserted land. The armonies are flat surfaces, very carved and slightly deformed by echos and by minute tones. The singing is always in a trance, about to dissolve in the apathyic tones of a moan that does not hurt anymore. Only six songs. Enough to keep a myth alive. McMahan is one of the major musicians of this age.

Fight Songs and Marshmallows have been released on one CD in 2007 as Promised Works.

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