Magnetic Morning - A.M.

Albums

Magnetic Morning is the collaboration of Adam Franklin, singer/guitarist for British indie shoegazers Swervedriver, and Interpol’s post-punk drummer Sam Fogarino. Their first full length, epic experiment is called A.M., and you know what?

It’s pretty damn good.

A.M. might be more recognizable as a Swervedriver offshoot than an Interpol side project, but not with any of the aggressive power of Mezcal Head or the soaring Super Stereo effects on 99^th Dream. It’s more the floating, dulcet dream pop slowed now to mature refinement and tempered skillfully by silver hammer drumming and atmospheric pianos, almost drawing a Syd Barrett via My Bloody Valentine vibe, but more like Doves or possibly The Verve’s latest album, Forth.

Simply put, it’s beautiful. A.M. drifts dreamily with all the haunting elements that make Swervedriver so great, but this time with an occasional luxury: the chorus.

It’s now eleven years since the release of Swervedriver’s last record. But only months ago the band reunited for a brief tour without new material that absolutely blew the roof off of the Paradise in Boston.

Here the aim is different. Magnetic Morning draws from themes of past Swervedriver songs but has basically turned that tequila into wine giving a fuzzy, warm, almost familiar sensation. There’s no pop songs hiding in the batch but the most accessible one’s are “Motorway” and “At a Crossroads, Passive,” finally revealing the galaxy of guitars you knew were hiding just around the corner.

Franklin found a fan and qualified peer when he was introduced to Sam Fogarino in New York and they began to meld ideas, both coming from bands with non-traditional song structures. Together they’ve slowed to turn the bright lights on true talent and atmosphere, letting Franklin stand tall as a pleading vocalist with melodies not lost behind a rocket blast of distortion, on gorgeous tracks like “And I Wonder,” “Indian Summer,” and “The Wrong Turning.”

If this project is short lived then “The Wrong Turning” is poised to be the perfect swan song as Franklin croons: “It’s my soliloquy. How I wish you were here.” It truly is and we haven’t gone anywhere. More Swervedriver, please.

Label: Friend or Faux
Release Date: 10-21-08

-Sean Monaghan