WL//WH Review THE MEDICINES
photo by @dominique_stolk
Emerging from Almere, The Netherlands, The Medicines recently released (on Sept. 7) their excellent new “Desert Of Loneliness” EP, which includes 3 exciting and quite multi-layered songs.
The band navigates the post-punk landscape with characteristic ease and—it seems—an innate talent for depicting and conveying the passions and “incidents” surrounding them; they are highly evocative and certainly skilled musicians, yet the raw, unpolished nature of their music ultimately proves to be an asset. There are various hidden elements and ‘secrets’ within these three tracks, but what truly defines this release is… well, it is best to quote the words I found in the press kit:
I am certain these words not only define the character of this release and serve as a dedication to a good friend who has flown away, but also make his presence tangible in the band’s music—giving every moment in here (and in every individual track) special weight.
The Medicines play post-punk music—traversing coldwave territory while enveloped in a distinct darkwave aura and the gothic flair—and they craft tracks with some other qualities that combine to make their music appealing to the ear.
On the surface, their music is romantic and sad, but you’ll find a band that refuses to be strictly boxed; I heard, e.g., elements of past film scores, and I certainly heard a great deal of musical expressiveness in their tracks. They don’t rely on ‘fillers’ in their arrangements; essentially, what they present is direct and confident in every respect.
After repeated listens to the “Desert of Loneliness” EP, I am certain that I am dealing with a talented band—one that navigates the realms of memory and the present. Ultimately, it is an honest album, one that holds both in its performance and narration. It is remarkable in art how often loss and pain can give birth to small miracles.
