For fans of this London based trio, their debut studio album might initially come across as nullifying to one’s emotional connectivity.
The expansiveness of the band’s sound has changed considerably since Elena Tonra solely released her Demos EP in 2010, and from when the trio together released His Young Heart a year later.
As an extension of previous work If You Leave takes Tonra’s personal wretchedness and shrouds it in distortion, shimmering guitars, and pulsating drums to create a pensive ambience.
By effectively removing the ‘folk’ tag they acquired with their first two EPs, their reputation for relatable heartbreak and isolation hasn’t suffered or been severed.
Take lead single ‘Smother’ as the album’s most obvious testament to Tonra’s somewhat poetic melancholy. “I’m sorry if I smothered you,” she serenades as the message transcends the musical atmosphere that is created by her boyfriend, guitarist Igor Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella.
While ‘Human’ is the LP’s most rollicking moment, the remainder of the album’s tracks build with a drumbeat that comes in only after the first verse.
As each song gathers pace, layer upon layer of sonic atmosphere generates a heightened sense of emotion.
It may not be as raw as their earlier material, but the elaboration of songs such as ‘Still’ and ‘Lifeforms’, along with the enhancement of older tracks ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Youth’, demonstrates that the band’s steps towards a new sound weren’t the wrong ones to take.
Alluring, intriguing, and consistent If You Leave is an admirable introduction to an evolving band.
