Music Review: I Break Horses, Chiaroscuro

By Less Lee Moore

Chiaroscuro is defined as “the technique of using light and shade in pictorial representation.” It’s a ideal name for the second album from I Break Horses, the musical project from Swedish singer/songwriter Maria Lindén. Rather than a contrast between light and shade, however, the songs on Chiaroscuro are a study in the interplay between the retro synths of ’80s shoegaze and the more contemporary flavors of techno and EDM. In a way, Chiaroscuro reminds me a lot of School of Seven Bells’ Ghostory, but while that album was crystalline ice, these songs are like smoldering embers.

There are many beautiful touches throughout the individual songs. The contrast between piano and buzzing, repetitive synths in “You Burn” is arresting and draws the listener in immediately. “Faith” has a fantastic techno beat in the chorus and a ’90s Depeche Mode vibe that makes the song a killer dance floor track. “Ascension” boasts a repeated keyboard riff that sounds like the sunrise, which gives the song a genuinely uplifting feeling, while “Denial” comes across as both a pretty pop song and a slow jam, which is no easy task. “Berceuse” (a word that means lullaby) features heavy bass and spider crawl synths reminiscent of mid-’80s Cocteau Twins.

The dirgelike “Medicine Brush” is bolstered by Lindén’s haunting, whispery voice. “Disclosure” is a darker tune with some invigorating percussion and gorgeous vocals, both of which provide exquisite contrast. Although not as consistently high energy as “Faith,” the danceable qualities of the chorus in “Weigh True Words” are undeniable. The album ends on a hopeful note with “Heart To Know,” which employs a kind of auditory chiaroscuro. There’s a slow organ that vibrates out into staggered vocal effects, creating jagged shards of sound like the layers in a chunk of shale.

Since synthpop is unfortunately still ostracized for not being “real music,” it will probably be hard for naysayers to appreciate the intricate levels of sound on Chiaroscuro. More than just varying styles of electronic instrumentation, there’s a profound depth to the sonics on the album. Lindén has a breathy, deep voice, but one with strength and passion, which makes her occasional foray into a higher register that much more enjoyable. Her vocals resonate like an additional instrument, rather than just someone singing over music so that the lyrics, a collaborative effort between Lindén and Fredrik Balck, become secondary. This reveals the album’s only handicap. As much as the music evokes emotion, the lyrics do not. That’s the only thing that keeps Chiaroscuro in the “very good” category instead of “superb.”

Chiaroscuro was released on January 21 through Bella Union/PIAS.

Tour Dates:
04/14: Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
04/15: Washington DC DC9
04/17: New York, NY Mercury Lounge
04/18: Brooklyn, NY Rough Trade
04/19: Allston, MA Great Scott
04/21: Montreal, QC Il Motore
04/22: Toronto, ON Underground at the Drake
04/24: Pontiac, MI Crofoot Ballroom – Pike Room
04/25: Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
04/26: Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
04/29: Seattle, WA The Crocodile
04/30: Portland, OR Holocene
05/02: San Francisco, CA The Independent
05/03: Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater