Falling Down a Mountain
Tindersticks
Score:55
Reviewer: Imene Chougrani
Label: Constellation (USA), 4AD (Europe), Remote Control (Australia)
Reviewed: Mar 11th '10, Released:2010
It's not easy being Tindersticks. Beyond the drastic lineup changes and the complexity of forming a band around Stuart Staples' charismatic personality, Tindersticks' heaviest burden is their own high standards. Having set the bar high with their 1993 eponymous debut, the band has been in a dilemma ever since, torn between the need to maintain their ongoing cachet and the ambition to renew their sound.
Falling Down a Mountain crystallizes this challenge. With their eighth album, the second after Dickon Hinchliffe's departure, Tindersticks take one more faltering step towards a lighter, soulful sound. But while their thematic intention is clear, with occasional nods to a country throughout the album, the execution doesn't follow and, regrettably, doesn't click. The album seems stuck at the crossroads between old Tindersticks and new Tindersticks. If, taken in isolation, both are arresting, their juxtaposition tends to be frustrating for a nostalgic fan.
Falling Down a Mountain still bears the band's hallmarks: atmospheric orchestrations revolving around Staples' baritone. But, this time, the magic isn't in the instrumentation, and although the added percussion and upbeat arrangements breathe a new life into Tindersticks' sound, one can't help but think that, unlike Hungry Saw, Falling Down a Mountain misses Hinchliffe's presence. Lyrically, the transition is more successful. While Staples is at his best in the drunken reminiscence of 'Factory Girls' and the doleful dialogue of 'Peanuts', Falling Down a Mountain brings a positive note to the band's melancholic themes, and this feels more like a natural maturation than a conscious attempt to rupture their tried-and-true sound.
The problem with Falling Down a Mountain is that it carries the burden of the band's history. Taken out of this context, it works far better and offers a genuine alternative to their gloominess. While Tindersticks deserve credit for not resting on their laurels, their thirst for renewal is misguided. Falling Down a Mountain could be a good introduction to the band, but it can't prevent an old fan from longing for the old Tindersticks.
