The Boats. Ballads of the Research Department LP

    cover art courtesy 12k

The Boats Ballads of the Research Department
2012, 12k

by Will F.

8.6 / 10

Experimental music offers little in its description to tell you what sort of sounds you are about to experience. Most people scurry away at the thought of ‘experimental’ as it conjures up an avant-garde bassoonist playing in 12/7 time over a tape recording of a blender. The Boats, however, offer something entirely refreshing and new to the concept of experimental music.


The duo, composed of Andrew Hargreaves and Craig Tattersall, focuses on pushing the boundaries of music through unexpected instrumentation, arrays of string sections and intense nocturnal timbres. In recording the album, the duo sought to explore and distort the traditional sense of a ballad, expressing (from 12k):


“We wanted to present the ballad in a new form employing sounds as well as words to tell our stories. These stories are not as lyrical as the ballad form of the past and are open to the listener’s interpretation. They are investigations into the uncertainty of our time, love, woe and hope.”


Such investigations of uncertainly are beautifully expressed on the opening track “The Ballad For Achievement,” opening with a warm drone cascading slowly into an Eno-esque piano-sprinkled melody. The excellence of the opening track is found within its slow layering of strings, wind-chimes, drums, and upright-bass. “The Ballad Of Failure” is drenched in emotive guitar reverb and dreamy vocals, creating a hybrid of ambient and shoegaze. Continuing their unhindered exploration of love, woe, and hope, “The Ballad For The Girl On The Moon” highlights the duo’s careful balance of unexpected turns. The cathartic string ballad transitions swiftly from a more classical violin solo into a modern showcase of departure, loss, and depression--all while brilliantly carrying the motifs of the preceding melody.


The highlight of the album is easily the closing ballad, “The Ballad of Indifference.” Showcasing The Boats' refreshing musical experimentation, the ballad combines Burial aesthetics with a cascading symphony of haunting, nocturnal, and excessively engrossing vocals performed by Japanese vocalist Cuushe. As if slowly moving down a deep river with only moonlight to guide your path, the last ballad gracefully bends and turns, trickles down your back and illuminates the dark shadows hiding in the corners. The resulting product is a gorgeous ballad, the likes of which I’ve never experienced.


Few albums explore the depth of human love, loss, and conscious reality as thoroughly as the Ballads of the Research Department--all while pushing the boundaries of genres and redefining expectations. Like a fine red wine, or wading through a surreal, never-ending dream, this album is more of an experience than an actual album. It is drenched in modesty, patience, and sincerity. This is an album I can listen to repeatedly without hesitation and be floored by its beauty on every listen.


Stream Ballads of the Research Department here, buy the CD from 12k's website.