The Proper Ornaments
Foxhole
Reviewed by: Lauren Rosier
If you’re a fan of simplistic guitar rock, the Proper Ornaments’ Foxhole is a record for you. The UK’s the Proper Ornaments is a the project of James Hoare and Max Oscarnold that began from a friendship and blossomed into a full blown music project.
Following the release of their debut, Wooden Head, and extensive critical praise, Hoare and Oscarnold began writing the sophomore record with bandmates Bobby Syme and Daniel Nellis. The result is an epicurean effort filled with glowing highs and somber, yet artistic valleys very well produced and presented perfectly.
Foxhole visits themes of being overlooked and isolated, inevitable change especially when it comes to age and growing up. It tends to be a somber effort, but don’t let that overshadow the musical simplicity and beauty of its production and presentation.
On the opening track, “Back Pages,” the duo sings “…see me in the back page / of last year’s modern age…” with clear influences of UK guitar-based bands like The Beatles and Television Personalities.
Foxhole contains some of the most dismal, yet artistic songs including the track “Memories,” where they sing “...memories can fade / some remain the same / they won’t take your place / memories they change / the truth will be arranged / nothing stays the same…”
They remind you of Elliott Smith on the track “Just a Dream” with light and flowy vocal presentation, and mellow indie rock and then change courses on “1969” to apropos psychedelic indie rock.
The album is an artistic, somber, yet epicurean collection of songs that celebrate the simplicity of guitars. The Proper Ornaments seem to understand the artistry in keeping things beautiful and simple; that shows on Foxhole.
Rating: Bad-Ass
