Wings of Plastic: Review of Moses Sumney's "Aromanticism"
Image credited to Moses Sumney's Facebook page (2/25/2015)...
With one play of "Plastic", I knew that I needed to give this album a chance.
One album that resonated with me was Aromanticism by Moses Sumney. Sumney presents voice that have a somber mix of soul and atmospherically airy. His vocal performance throughout the album partners well with the production on the album.
Man on the Moon sets the mood of the album and smoothly transitions into Don't Bother Calling. Sumney starts with a phone call that express the sentiment of being saddend by the inbalanced match of him and his Love. After Don't Bother Calling, we transition into Plastic, one of the favorite selections from the album. Sumney croons to his love over soft guitar strokes about his understanding of being disappointed when life doesn't fair out to the expectations you have for it. As he starts to address her more, the instrumentation slowly becomes more haunting and cathedral. He shares his secret is that he, similar to Icarus, can falter in the expectations that are set for him.
Quarrel continues with a cinematic orchestral instrumentation that touches the elements that connects with the struggles of love. The lyrics are accompanied by music that express the same sentiments. Being the longest song on the album, the variations in the song never allows it to feel like a guest that overstayed its welcome.
Stoicism works as a brief interlude into Lonely World. Lonely World starts off slow but transitions into an uptempo rhythm without losing the purpose of the song. Make Out in My Car is a sensual plead to a Love that the intentions of the encounter is simple: I just make out in the car. The Cocoon-Eyed Baby is another brief interlude that presents a poem that still feels a little cryptic in its true meaning.
Doomed expands on the theme of The Cocooned-Eyed Baby, as Sumney sings about the doubt and uncertainty. Subtle feeling of dread and pain echoes through the chorus of the song.:
Am I vital if my heart is idle?
Am I doomed?
Cradle me so I can see
If I'm doomed...
The emotions starts to turn as Indulge Me starts to play. The mood moves to a more melancholy vibe as Sumney speaks on the finding the ability to find peace in isolation while others move on. The album ends with Self-Help Tape. The song signals a renewal of sorts, a move from isolation to the opening of the cage to freedom.
This album was available from VinylMePlease as a special black and white vinyl pressing. Along with the artwork of the gatefold pressing, the overall package fits the narrative that Moses Sumney is trying to portray with this album.
Final Note...
When searching for music, it's hard to find a regal experience that strikes a emotion within you. Rarely, do we receive albums from artists that can be played as a complete story. The rise and fall of the human emotion throughout the project allow you, the listener, to become more aware of the singer as more than a musical vessel but as an individual who had to endure the rollercoaster of love. The ironic part about the project is the name. An aromantic is defined as a individual who feels almost no emotional connection with others. Their love is mentioned as being limited to only to agape or phillia. The strong resistance to true romance within the album connects more to me as an individual who is unsure or scared. Romance requires vulnerability and most do not want to experience the pain that associates with love turned cold. Maybe I'm reading too deep into the theme of the record but something that warrants deep thought is a testament to why it is worth exploring. Aromanticism was one of the best albums to have released in 2017.
Moses Sumney performing "Plastic" at Sofar NYC on October 21st, 2014.