Big Distraction

PVLL albvm review from BIG DISTRACTION:

`Inhabiting the eerie dream world formerly the province of Jarboe and The Swans in their latter period, Wive create the sort of emotionally draining, beautiful that defies easy categorisation while grabbing hold of your heart and giving it a good squeeze. Elements of the Arcade Fire, Angels of light, fuck buttons and more pulses at the core of this stunning album available on Exile on mainstream records, and boasting the sort of stunning packaging that seems to be the trademark of that label.

Opening with ‘Toast to famines’, a beautifully phrased lament which recalls Seafood’s haunting vocal harmonies, set to the most skeletal of background beats and eerie violin. It’s a stunning opening that builds over its meagre four minute runtime to a gentle crescendo before ‘Teethy’ trudges in upon a jazzy drum beat and downbeat minor chord vocal harmonies that see the band stretch into Arcade fire territory, but without that band’s sense of orchestrated chaos. ‘Language’ comes next, a song that swells out of guitar drone, with vocals that recall a barbershop quartet at a funeral so mournful are they in execution. ‘Lazarus and dives’ follows and it comes as something of a relief after the deep introspection of the previous track. Simulated vinyl noise and piano come together with programmed drums to create a haunting track that wouldn’t sound out of place on NIN’s Ghosts set; It’s a high point of the record and it is a remarkably beautiful track that sucks you into a reverie.

‘Come, join the sea’ is almost a hymn, based around haunting vocals and a simple piano melody that slowly builds as elements are added into the mix until the whole thing reaches a painful crescendo that echoes around the listener. ‘Attrition’, meanwhile, offers an overwhelmingly distorted bass coupled with an organ to create the backing track to one of the most memorable melodies on the disc. Once again Wive demonstrate their ability to make the most complex and ostensibly difficult musical arrangements accessible and the song is cleverly arranged to make sure that the noise elements never overpower the mix. ‘The day the earth burnt to death’ continues with the NIN-esque elements as a Spartan beat underpins this most melancholy of tracks, and the echoing vocals are gloriously understated. ‘Widows’ surely wins the prize for most unconventional percussion, while the melodies again recall The Arcade Fire’s more experimental moments. ‘Tongve of Callvs’ opens on an unnerving note before powerful yet jazzy drums underpin the track. ‘Slvmber’s edit’ closes the record with piano lost amidst a wall of static and ghostly half-heard voices. It is the perfect ending to this difficult, beautiful, unearthly album.

Wive are a fascinating prospect. They bear similarities to various US indie acts such as Low and Arcade Fire, as well as to Icelandic adventurers Sigur Ros, but ultimately their sound is all their own. The music is sparse, beautiful and yet occasionally deeply complex and there is a harrowing element to the melancholy vocals that would be all but unbearable if it wasn’t for the faintest glimmer of hope that appears from time to time to rescue the listener from the worst excesses of their imagination. That this record is highly recommended almost goes without saying, but it is not a record that I would play with great regularity owing to its sombre nature, rather it is something to be taken out, marvelled at and treasured when the mood strikes. It is hard to imagine hearing a more beautiful or emotive piece of music all year and if you can track down the first run, the first 1000 copies come in a beautiful hand printed bag.

limited edition PVSH EP


PVSH
Recorded since the new year, 4 new songs written to complement PVLL.
2 remixed songs off of PVLL.
hand made and assembled by the band, edition of 60 cdr's available exclusively on the upcoming tour.

tracklist

1. VNWIND
2. THE GREATEST HAVNT
3. SLVMBERS EDICT
4. RAPTVRE
5. TEETHY (SLEEP CRIME REMIX)
6. WIDOWS (THE GHOST MAKING REMIX)

PVLL Album Release



We are pleased to announce the release of our forthcoming debut album "Pvll", available through the outstanding and legendary EXILE ON MAINSTREAM Records / SOUTHERN Records.
"Pvll" will be released as a 10 track CD in a 6 panel Digi-file and as a limited first run (1000 copies) in a hand printed, hand numbered raw cotton bag. PVLL will be available worldwide through SOUTHERN Distribution.

Worldwide Release Dates for "Pvll":
Germany: 5th of February 2010
Europe, including the UK: 8th of February 2010.
US: 23rd of March 2010.

Tracklist:
1. Toast to Famines
2. Teethy
3. Langvage
4. Lazarvs and Dives
5. Come, Join the Sea
6. Attrition
7. The Day Bvrnt to Death
8. Widows
9. Tongve of Callvs
10. Slvmber's Edit

PVLL is currently available for pre-order through Southern Records at www.southern.com

In support of "Pvll", we have been invited to play BLISSTRAIN 2010, a weeklong showcase in which we have the honor to play and to share the stage with four amazing bands. For information, visit www.blisstrain.de.

Following the completion of Blisstrain, we shall continue the tour with our dear friends, BOMBEE+.

We will visit you here:
06.03.2010 GER Potsdam, Fabrik (Blisstrain 2010)
07.03.2010 GER Cologne, Underground (Blisstrain 2010)
08.03.2010 GER Jena, Kassablanca (Blisstrain 2010)
09.03.2010 GER Nürnberg, MUZ Club (Blisstrain 2010)
10.03.2010 GER Berlin, Lido (Blisstrain 2010)
11.03.2010 GER Hamburg, Hafenklang (Blisstrain 2010)
12.03.2010 GER Leipzig, Conne Island (Blisstrain 2010)
13.03.2010 GER Dresden, Beatpol (Blisstrain 2010)
14.03.2010 CZ Hradec Kralove, La Putika (w/ BOMBEE+)
15.03.2010 CZ Prague, 007 (w/ BOMBEE+)
16.03.2010 AUT Vienna, Arena (w/ BOMBEE+)
17.03.2010 GER Munich, Feierwerk (w/ BOMBEE+)
18.03.2010 GER Freiburg, White Rabbit (w/ BOMBEE+)
19.03.2010 GER Tübingen, Schlosscafe (w/ BOMBEE+)
20.03.2010 GER Braunschweig, Nexus (w/ BOMBEE+)
21.03.2010 GER Chemnitz, Weltecho (w/ BOMBEE+)

Most sincere regards,
WIVE
www.wivecult.com | wiveband@gmail.com
----------------------------
Exile on Mainstream Records
www.mainstreamrecords.de
----------------------------
SOUTHERN Records
www.southern.com
----------------------------
For press tools contact
Lauren Barley
press@srd.com
+44 (0) 208 802 4444

attrition

attrition by wive

little ones
burn the breeze
is this all night will be
anchor mask
spoiled seed
finally it comes for me
call me out
breathing fists
all the stars aligned for this
brought of wrath
scars will pass
from the skin through this path

lonely ghosts
of books we wrote
will never need to be seen
plight of days
so filled with graves
i never meant something lovely
felt of grace
my hollow face
could always break so endlessly
come on child
the distant miles
could not merely set us free

still is scene
scorn of we
attrition danced on playfully
i believe
I'm deceived
my hope paints me darkly
scatter stones
nothings shown
the lie of "all i own"
colonial kiss
killing fields
watch what fear will wield

sum songs add wrong
come calm, black faun
kiss her once, kiss her once for me
all the ravenous
cannibals come home
come on back, come on back for me

teethy

teethy by wive

i will hold the tides back
the teethy wolf pack
wearing bishops robes
holding both sides of a wishing bone

i will fold the preachers
i will suck the leaches
wearing bishops robes
holding both sides of a wishing bone

lets calm the tempest

the day bvrnt to death

the day bvrnt to death by wive

held of lovely
fell to ties
covet sideways
fill the frights
this is always
coming queer
ive been knowing
in the fears

sold to soiled
nothings might
kissing highways
of last nights
i am always
versioned near
ive been singing
will you hear

beyond the walls of these words
comes a beautiful curse
when the day burnt to death
i held on to what was left
in the corners of night
distanced to any light
it runs through my veins
it hides its own name
and aches