Death and the Maiden's Wisteria: Reviewed By Michael Mitchell

Death and the Maiden - Wisteria

Hello. My name is Mike and I am a Danny Brady-aholic. Last year he was involved with my #2 record of the year, the minimalist-electro band Élan Vital's brilliant debut "Shadow Self", and now he is involved in my "so-far" top pick for 2018 with Death and the Maiden's sophomore disc "Wisteria". Sparse instrumentation, drum machine beats, ethereal vocals, catchy songs and smart lyrics tie this into one hell of a package. Imagine combining both of Henry Frayne's bands (Area and The Moon Seven Times) with Lorde on vocals. Comparisons to her will be made on Lucinda King's voice and not just because DatM also hail from New Zealand. And yes, that is a compliment. Their music is so slick and refined. The vocals are elegant. This is smart pop. This is what should demand attention rather than the formulaic tripe passing as popular music now. Leading off this opus with the title track easing up into your speakers, you quickly find the groove and get lost in Hope Robertson's repeating guitar line as the beat makes your head swim but allows you to be just far enough above the water to take in the lilting vocal. The absurdly named "Oooh Baby in the Chorus" is the highlight of the album. Chiming instrumentation churning around the central lyric, "Everything is wrong around us". Dance-ably downtrodden. 'River Underground' is a track begging for a Tricky remix. The album closer "Everything is Stressful" does feed you a full teaspoon of tension complete with the aftertaste. It builds into the albums biggest bang leaving you with a fade out of bass fuzz in your ear but the sweet smell of Wisteria in your nostrils.


Death and the Maiden's new record Wisteria is available now from ​www.fishriderrecords.com/ and via Bandcamp
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Michael Mitchell's love of music started at an early age and slowly became an addiction that courses through his veins to this very day. It is guaranteed that if you are in his proximity that he will try to get you to travel to the nearest record store and make you buy beyond your means. His wife and two children acknowledge his problem and continue to encourage him into rehab.

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