The Soulsavers’ name brings to mind a crowded church with an animated preacher, a scene similar to the moment in “The Blues Brothers” in which a minister played by James Brown manages to get John Belushi’s Jake Blues character to see the light.
But the name is misleading.
The Soulsavers, a British electronic production duo, aren’t thumping Bibles on their latest effort, “It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land,” which sees the group move away from the more synthetic noises found on their debut LP, “Tough Guys Don’t Dance,” to favor a darker, more organic feeling.
“It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land,” opens with “Revival,” one of the brighter songs on the album and the band’s first single.
“Revival” has heavy gospel undertones, powered by organ, with a backing chorus singing in exquisite harmony with Northwest grunge fixture Mark Lanegan’s deep, quavering voice, which is heard throughout most of the album. This is one of the most spiritual-sounding songs on the album, perfectly pairing Lanegan’s words with an old-time sound that is absolutely breathtaking.
It’s the perfect start to an album that dances between hope and hopelessness in half time. The Soulsavers integrate Lanegan’s voice into their sound seamlessly, allowing him to breathe life into soundscapes that are full of instruments but still convey a sense of desolation.
Songs such as the second track, “Ghosts of You and Me,” allow the Soulsavers to show off their dance background with more typically electronic-styled drum breaks inserted into a song that could be the soundtrack to a cinematic shot of cowboys walking through the desert on their way to nowhere.
On “Paper Money” they explore a minimal rock arrangement with brief snatches of chorus singing. This is just another example of the Soulsavers’ remarkable ability to build energy without the listener knowing until the rush of sound has set in.
But the new album is not all surprise guitars and beat-up sounding drums. While Lanegan’s gruff performances at the outset of the album are moving in their own right, it’s equally stunning to hear him sing soulfully over the Soulsavers’ quieter arrangements.
In these songs we hear Lanegan channel Johnny Cash much the same way singers like Adam Turla did on his band Murder by Death’s most recent album, “In Bocca Al Lupo.” Lanegan is no less effective, squarely hitting the mark with lyrics that amble through the Soulsavers’ arrangements.
Add these vocally impressive songs to a few instrumental tracks, and “It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land,” is well worth a listen for anyone with cowboy leanings, a love for creative use of electronics or a disposition toward the raw and soulful.
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