Miracle Fortress – Five Roses
For all they sound like a band, Miracle Fortress are apparently largely the work of one man: Graham Van Pelt. He recorded the entire thing himself, assembling an album with texture and purpose and sunny choruses just slightly distorted. If Fleet Foxes reintroduced us to the folkier directions in which West Coast pop could be diverted, this brings just a little bit of fuzz and confusion to a similar foundation.
It’s not all great, and there are times when it seems to be more a repetition of a particular style than a reinvention. Often, though, it’s really good, the gravelly electronics of the intro to songs like Maybe Lately bringing enough of a deviation from an otherwise familiar model to be intriguing and delicious. There are a few moments like this on the album, which is why I’m enjoying it, with Have You Seen in Your Dreams being a particular favourite.
In general the record has a good feel to it as well. It’s difficult to entirely quantify this, apart from saying that even if I’m not entirely paying attention to it all, then I’m still tapping my feet and bobbing my head. Maybe that’s the beat, maybe the roll of the rhythm, but whatever it is, even thought I don’t love every song on it, this is an album I am really enjoying lisetning to.
Miracle Fortress – Have You Seen in Your Dreams
Miracle Fortress – Maybe Lately
Graham Van Pelt, eh?
Any relation to Linus?
Yes, Bart, they’re twins.
cool songs. I really hear a beach boys vibe in Maybe Lately..yeah beach boys plus a phil spector wall of sound vibe.
-Voyno
That’s pretty much what the Guardian review said. I did try and avoid the obvious, but you might as well call a spade a spade.
Is this a reissue? I’m sure it came out a year ago or more, because I included “Have You Seen In Your Dreams” in my Stylus year-end singles vote
Quite feasibly. I was sent it by a friend at their label, so it could well be far from a timely review. I tag things ‘new music’ when it’s the first time it gets featured here.
Ah! Great to hear these guys are making a name for themselves.
Matthew, are you sure they’re twins?
It’s just that Linus looks a lot younger.
This was my favourite album of 2007 which I played to bits. In retrospect you’re right about it not being “not all great”. I was part of a small group of people who have tried (& usually failed) to catch a great Miracle Fortress show – I think I caught them 4 times and each gig was a bit of let down. They played twice in London last month and I couldn’t summons up the enthusiasm. They do a great version of Daft Punk’s “Digital Love” BTW.