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A Northern Chorus - Bitter Hands Resign
(2005, Sonic Unyon)
 There hasn't been enough fuzzy, theatrical shoegazing of late. I mean you've got your Sigur Ros and a scant few others, but for the most part expansive soundscapes and swooning transitions have fallen by the wayside. Where are the dreamily dark melodies that draw you in while the music's enormity engulfs you in atmoshphere? Where are my melancholy anthems? Hmmm?
With A Northern Chorus' third album I've discovered that those sounds are still echoing from Canada. Hamilton, Ontario to be slightly more precise. Bitter Hands Resign is a confident step, showing the blossoming of the seeds sewn on their last offering, Spirit Flags. The whole album moves in dreamy, etherial waves with highs and lows balanced with ponderous beats orchestrated to the point of high drama. If you're familiar with the band Slowdive then you know what I'm talking about. There are walls of sound drenched in reverb that weave and sway to the point of hypnosis. With lush production and layer upon layer of melody, Bitter Hands Resign reveals some new intricacy with each passing listen.
The music's dynamic range is enormous in scope, capable of building to enthralling highs and gently soft lows. The guitars intertwine in a most shimmering manner often exploding into fuzzy distortion. The drums pound with proficient restraint. The words are delivered in a dreamy, airy falsetto. Having a full-time cellist doesn't hurt either.
For all its well manecured production and sonic layering, Bitter Hands Resign is suprisingly organic what with the way the songs breathe and swell. The mood is that of either being out in the middle of nowhere shortly after the sun goes down, looking out over a large body of water alone or lying on your back and staring at a ceiling contentedly.
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