(2021) Typhoon - Sympathetic Magic


Review:
Indie rock band Typhoon took fans by surprise with the release of their previously unannounced fifth studio album Sympathetic Magic, out via Roll Call Records. This is the Portland band’s first album since 2018’s Offerings. Typhoon are titans at their craft, creating swirling and emotion-filled songs that leave listeners hard-pressed not to connect with. Led by Kyle Morton, the band utilize vast outpours of melodious harmonies that give them a sonic flair that is all their own. Sympathetic Magic deviates slightly, opting for a more intimate setting that, while different, does not fail at bewitching all those listening to great effect. An album built for the moment, Sympathetic Magic dives into the now – the humanity that resides during a time where connection and people are farther apart than ever before, whether it be physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. The insight the album provides is an utter delight, and as the name implies, it’s nothing short of incomparable magic. “Sine Qua Nonentity” is a delicate intro whose power resides within the heart that lives within each note hit by the acoustic guitar, string ensemble, and those dulcet vocals from Morton himself. It’s soft yet impactful, setting the stage for a journey that will bring a much-needed warmth. On “Empire Builder,” the lead single, a louder attitude is apparent, but the intimate nature is not lost. “An empty hallway a phone ringing/It goes on forever no one’s answering /Concept of god ever slippery/Are you outside of time? Are you in everything?/I’ll find the sacred buried in me/And I will cut it out while everyone is watching,” Morton croons, the instruments whirling and enriching his words. With a gorgeous crescendo near the three-minute mark, it’s already clear just how spellbinding of an album awaits. More subdued but equally as captivating, “Motion and Thought” is textured delicately with acoustic balladry that coalesces with grace with the vocals to create one of the album’s most majestic tracks. As the track closes out, the instrumentation leads the way with dream-like playing of a celestial quality. Tracks like “We’re In It” provide a more familiar sound but one that is still very much at home here. There’s a sense of levity attached to Morton’s tone, making smiles a guarantee upon each listen. The percussive thuds that open and carry “Two Birds” are inexplicably hypnotic, their presence a calming one. Placidity is not uncommon for the album, something it’s adorned with and utilized with poise and elegance. “Evil Vibes” is Typhoon at their most visceral. “Demons between me and my slumber/I’m swinging at point blank/They keep coming back with numbers/I lie still impersonate the furniture/Figure eights on a skating rink /Sharks circling under,” Morton chants with a passionate tone, allowing for the words to become realized in the minds, and it’s simply stunning. The fragility attached to Morton’s voice on “And So What if You Were Right” is almost haunting. A major focus is on the vocals here, and each vibration is more alluring than the last. “Time, Time” does away with fragile to make way for a livelier touch. The mélange of guitar, percussion, and horns dazzle, adding a radiant touch to the album. “Room Within the Room” resides on the same plane as “And so What if You Were Right” with its hushed presence. The backing instruments make for an ethereal dreamscape, offering the album a touch of otherworldly energy.





Tracklist:
01 - Sine Qua Nonentity
02 - Empire Builder
03 - Motion and Thought
04 - Santos
05 - We're in It
06 - Two Birds
07 - Evil Vibes
08 - And So What If You Were Right
09 - Time, Time
10 - Room Within the Room
11 - Masochist Ball
12 - Welcome to the Endgame


Media Report:
Genre: indie-folk, indie-rock
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits