Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The mealy-mouthed, holier-than-thou and hypocritical all have the same basic characteristics woven into their D.N.A., the advice they want to spread, with or without being asked, is quite often shrouded in a Shadow Offering, a contribution from the empty can, the verbal donation from the pulpit of their choice, looking down upon their idea of the wretched and in need. The darkness in which they preach coming from a place of insecurity, of envy, and one in which the brave and the soulful have to join forces to keep the others at bay.

It takes light to counteract the offerings made by those in the shadows, the sincerity of illumination, and for Canadian band Braids, that insight that comes from within on their new album, Shadow Offering, is enough to keep their line of defence from the double-dealing and devious, intact, and give hope to the rest that they too can find the strength to withstand the fork-tongued insinuations.

The sound of the light varies from soul to soul, but they have that one underlying feature that marks them out as gate keepers of the dawn, they inspire beauty, not superficial prettiness, but deep down heart-felt attraction, the ones that can reach over the border fence and shake hands with the refugee with sermonising, that can sit and listen to a story without feeling the need to interrupt, the ones that can feel pleased that a friend has succeeded in their attempt to make a dream become reality, without feeling the gnaw of jealousy which gives them the reason to be cruel and bitter.

Shadow Offering is an album that holds that belief, it doesn’t just radiate its own light for others to feel safe within, it urges others to be bold, to strike out and puncture the pomposity of the darkness and see it sag, deflate, become defeated, and across songs such as Young Buck, Just Let Me, the exceptional Fear Of Men, Snow Angel and the finale of Note To Self, Braids have immersed themselves into that of substantial and the generous, they have seen others falter, and have picked up their lanterns, their fire branded torches, and strike out with clarity in their lyrics and a sweet sound of cool attached to them.

Beauty in its truest form, hard to beat, impossible to conquer, the light of this album never diminishing.  

Braids’ Shadow Offering is out now.

Ian D. Hall