Iceage - Plowing Into the Field of Love

Iceage

Plowing Into the Field of Love

6 October 2014

Matador/Escho

 

4 stars out of 5

 

 

Danish post-hardcore quartet Iceage have released two records of sharp and quick punk ditties, but their third LP, Plowing Into the Field of Love, sees them expanding their musical scope, and exploring musical territory beyond the two-minute mark. In fact, the shortest track here is two and a half minutes. But does it work? Do they pull it off?

 

Yes. They throw at us violins and horns, and these completely unexpected instruments, in very unexpected arrangements, feel natural. Don’t worry, Iceage haven’t gone all Mars Volta on us—this is an implosion of the genre that shares more in common with The Fall or Parquet Courts than it does with wankish neo-prog. Example: “Against the Moon” features brushes on the drums, an off-meter piano refrain, and violin and trumpet swells serving as the backdrop for a naked statement of regret. While the band expands their sound and explores many new songwriting territories, there’s not a hint of either arrogant bombast or over-production: Plowing Into the Field of Love works because it comes from a real place, full of agony and uncertainty. Closed-minded fans of the band are going to hate it, but Iceage probably don’t give a crap about that.

 

reviewed by Richard Krueger