A Lifetime or More
The Album Leaf
August 18, 2003
Arena Rock Recordings
The Album Leaf
August 18, 2003
Arena Rock Recordings
As part of a split release with On! Air! Library!, LaValle recorded three tracks that form “A Lifetime or More”. Another Day opens the EP and is its strongest track. In typical LaValle fashion, he shows a lot of restraint and builds up layers of ambient sounds. Where there were a couple of mishits early in his solo work, this time he is able to tell a story with the sounds. Another Day finds you shifting from memory to memory, piecing together the threads of your own history, as it seems the song forms a mental backdrop for your story.
Essex is a nice arrangement with a metronomic approach that never really sets itself apart. The increase and decrease in volume throughout the track does create a bit of dynamic but never really excites or impresses. Were it to tell a story, like Another Day, the track would’ve been much stronger. Lamplight is actually quite interesting in its (initial) utter minimalistic character. Ambient layers are added to the track and it slowly grows into what you could call an instrumental anthem. It does take off eventually but instead of realizing real flight it seems to more or less hover. So while the song reaches a certain height it isn’t soaring quite yet.
LaValle shows off his knack for arrangement and creating a dynamic. Another Day really showcases the talent of telling a story without words or vocals and the powerful quality of a well-arranged piece. “A Lifetime Or More” is a nice interlude in The Album Leaf’s catalogue but in its entirety it is hardly a masterpiece.
Essex is a nice arrangement with a metronomic approach that never really sets itself apart. The increase and decrease in volume throughout the track does create a bit of dynamic but never really excites or impresses. Were it to tell a story, like Another Day, the track would’ve been much stronger. Lamplight is actually quite interesting in its (initial) utter minimalistic character. Ambient layers are added to the track and it slowly grows into what you could call an instrumental anthem. It does take off eventually but instead of realizing real flight it seems to more or less hover. So while the song reaches a certain height it isn’t soaring quite yet.
LaValle shows off his knack for arrangement and creating a dynamic. Another Day really showcases the talent of telling a story without words or vocals and the powerful quality of a well-arranged piece. “A Lifetime Or More” is a nice interlude in The Album Leaf’s catalogue but in its entirety it is hardly a masterpiece.
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