White Denim - World As A Waiting Room Review
This is a solid effort from White Denim, considering they created this whole project within 30 days it is incredible how competently arranged and thought-out some of the tracks are.
White Denim’s second last album ‘Performance’ was number 2 on its respective albums of the year top 10 list but I found myself disappointed with the aptly named ‘Side Effects’ that came the following year. ‘World As A Waiting Room’ is a return to form for the four-piece band from Austin, Texas. At 31 minutes this album is quite a tight package, which is no surprise as White Denim are such a tight band. I’ve been lucky enough to see White Denim live and can really admire the frontman’s, that is James Petralli’s, dedication to sonic perfection. Perhaps this was most evident in how he stopped a performance mid-song in an effort to tune a guitar that to everyone else in the room already sounded perfect.
The album starts with first single ‘I Don’t Understand Rock and Roll’. With vintage spaced-out synths, double-tracked vocals that at times have a hint of Freddie Mercury to them, this track does not stop for a rest. Instead, it’s constantly blasting you through catchy hooks with complex arrangements and performances. ‘Matter of Matter’ is a really brilliant track with wailing guitars and hurricane-force vocals. Towards the end of the track there are brilliant swirling keyboards that phase in and out of the guitars and vocals.
‘Work’ is the second track I heard in advance of the release of this record and was the first to really pique my hopes for the record. This track feels straight out of the White Denim playbook; and it ends with one of the best psychedelic jams that White Denim has taken part in, only to rapidly return the newly arranged verse chorus structure before. The guitars soar high on this track, sounding like birds singing in the distance as the track fades away before coming to an abrupt close.
‘Go Numb’ is unfortunately where this album takes a little turn for me. Losing the intensity of the riffs and fast-paced improvisational looping of previous tracks, this is a lot more relaxed — although lyrically Petralli writes ‘Don’t want to mix with your dirty spit’ which must surely be in reference to the paranoia of mixing with people during this pandemic. For quite a chilled song there is definitely an anxiety in this piece. ‘Queen of the Quarantine’ starts with marimba-style percussion and ends with twinkling keys before dissolving into the action-packed ‘DVD’. ‘DVD’ is something you could almost expect on the album ‘Performance’ but a little weirder. This album feels more like a performance with side effects, as if the album was dipped in a quarantine and isolation stew and spat out from a psychedelic phase cannon.
On the track ‘Slow Death’ it’s nice to hear White Denim experimenting with noise at the start of the track, only for things to head of in a very wonky and polyrhythmic direction. ‘Eagle Wings’ sound like the lead singer is almost channeling his inner Elvis Presley as he croons the vocals with a similar uh-huh-huh vibe. Unfortunately, this track seems a bit out of place with those that precede it but it definitely has a sweetness to it.
The last track ‘King Prospero’ reminds me of the similar acoustic lead ending of ‘Performance’. However, this song progresses into a beautiful soundscape of sweeping synths and features some well-utilised piano flourishes. This track is a really stunning end to an album that leaves you wanting more, which is the case for much of White Denim’s best work.
This is a solid effort from White Denim, considering they created this whole project within 30 days it is incredible how competently arranged and thought-out some of the tracks are. Rarely leaving you a moment to breathe, this album feels short and sweet leaving a positive, if not flawless, impression.
