Los Angeles – American audiences got their first introduction to Savages via their powerhouse of a debut, Silence Yourself. An exhilarating slab of angry, discordant, and altogether unforgettable post-punk – the band instantly caught the attention of the music world. Led by the dynamic, French-born lead vocalist Jehnny Beth (née Camille Berthomier), the London-based quartet cranked out furiously restrained tracks such as “Husbands” and “She Will”. The 11 songs on that debut LP showcased a fierce and often-intimidating vocalist snarling, whispering, shouting, screaming lyrics that detail the realities her experience as a woman in postmodern Western society. Savages are that rare band that can simultaneously be subtle and obvious in their message, and ability to balance extremes is once again perfected on their sophomore studio album Adore Life.
“The Answer” is a bold opening salvo that serves as a more obvious example of Savages’ unbridled lyrical and instrumental intensity. The track kicks off with a blistering guitar riff that careens into itself over and over, enveloping Jehnny Beths vocals, which do not bother with flowery metaphors: “If you don’t love me / Don’t love anybody… Oh there are things / I know we should better not do / But I know you could / Sleep with me / And we’ll still be friends / Oh I know / I’ll go insane.”
There aren’t many other songs that reach the beats per minute of “The Answer”, but there are plenty that can match it in forceful passion. “Adore” begins with sparse arrangements and whispering vocals before hitting a melodic crescendo that ranks among the band’s most accessible moments – but just as quickly as the song became melodically based, it heads right back to using unsettling moods to draw in the listener. Beth gradually increases the levity of her intense delivery: “I adore life, do you adore life?”
Struggling relationship and the personal demons that cause/are caused by them is a common theme throughout Adore Life. From the explicitly expressed frustration of “I Need Something New”, the seeming projection of depression of “Sad Person”, the manic joy of “When in Love”: Jehnny Beth’s persona on this album represents the most problematic of partners. She is intense, spiteful and consistently unpredictable.
Despite being a powerful force on record, Savages take their kinetic energy to almost-terrifying levels live. One excellent example is their show-stopping turn at this summer’s FYF Festival in Los Angeles. While Jehnny Beth played the role of flamboyant showstopper, discerning music fans were probably more blown away by something else going on about 10 yards behind her. Drummer Fay Milton is, simply put, an instrumental dynamo that at times single-handedly adds a rhythmic foundation that takes the songs from “good” to “incredible.”
In fact, as integral as Jehnny Beth’s vocals and lyrics are in setting the dark moodiness of Adore Life, it could be argued that the instrumental core of Milton, bassist Ayse Hassan, and guitarist Emma Thompson are even more vital. It’s the small nuances – a pick scrape here, a pinched harmonic there, perhaps a little bit of feedback between chugging chords – all of these small factors combine into an album which will haunt the listener to the core.
Savages have embarked on an international tour to support the songs on Adore Life, with stops in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. Find concert information on their website, and hurry because many shows are selling out well in advance.
Matt Matasci
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