A disingenuous critique is sometimes applied to Veckatimest, and to a lesser extent the New York quartet that crafted it. Their crime? Perfection. Or, to be more exact, an overzealous approach to achieving it. Every note of Grizzly Bear’s third album is conspicuously pristine and considered; a few may take the logical quantum leap and label it as sterile, but to chuck stones at it on that basis seems self-defeating—we’ve got plenty of shambolic no-fi outfits already, thanks.
Even so, Grizzly Bear appear tacitly aware that shedding a couple of layers of production isn’t necessarily a compromise; 'Southern Point' is stripped of some studio tweaks, but loses none of its affecting grandeur. A more instinctive attitude to their material comes off well in the main, save for a disappointing rendition of 'Two Weeks' that seems to lose much of its sparkle, thanks to a buoyant arrangement that sacrifices the original’s depth of feeling. Coincidentally, Victoria Legrand is on hand to share vocals with the quartet for the latter song, reappearing onstage for a brief cameo after an impressive showing as one half of Beach House.
Grizzly Bear trust their audience enough to play a considerable smattering of songs outwith Veckatimest – the wistful 'Deep Blue Sea', from the Friend EP, is the pick of the bunch, rivalled only by the upbeat stomp of 'On A Neck, On A Spit'. However, it’s the offerings from the latest album that really steal the show. The majestic swells and crashes of 'I Live With You' shudder a sound system that just about manages to hold itself together; while at the other end of the spectrum, the quietude of Foreground is reciprocated by a deathly, reverent silence. 'While You Wait For The Others' is also worth mentioning for the cheer that welcomes its choppy riffs and Daniel Rossen’s ethereal coo.
The band near enough exhaust themselves by the end —the balmy air and visible furrows of concentration see to that—and Chris Taylor busts a gut to flit between the menagerie of wind instruments at his feet. The Queens Hall’s beautifully washed-out pastel interior offers a curious précis of the evening. Within the faded opulence of the auditorium walls, Grizzly Bear, as polished an outfit as they are, sound just as enchanting once they allow the varnish to chip away a little.
4/5
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