Send "The Veils " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 Listen to any song on the Veils’ debut album, The Runaway Found, and it becomes glaringly apparent why they were initially signed to legendary UK record label Rough Trade. Many of the songs on The Runaway Found sound vaguely like a Jeff Buckley fronted version of the Smiths, but are well crafted enough that the listener won’t feel as though they have been listening to Buckley’s cover of “The Boy With a Thorn In His Side” on repeat. Lesser singers would gladly resign themselves to being Buckley clones, but Veils front man Finn Andrews is a capable enough singer that songs like “The Wild Son” rise above any and all comparisons and simply become lovely. Andrews is also open to more diversity than most indie singers. In pre-Rough Trade singles such as “Death and Co.”, there are manneristic hints of Suede front man Brett Anderson; on later albums, such as their second and thus far most consistent album Nux Vomica, Andrews’ vocals as well as the melodies bear a White Stripes influence. When former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler is added to the equation as co-producer (on The Runaway Found and newest release Troubles of the Brain), the Veils begin appearing as an indie kid’s wet dream. Sadly, what sounds promising in print doesn’t always live up to perceptions in execution. The Veils are good, surely, but little of what they do is life-changing. That said, this is an EP, a format which rarely exhibits major stylistic leaps or career-defining songs. For those curious about the Veils yet hopeless at determining a good place to start, Troubles of the Brain is a wise buy, as it is a brief seven songs long and over half those songs are solid. Another review of the EP described opener “Bloom” as sounding like the Drums being dragged through the gravel by Nick Cave. Although Andrews’ voice is far too jaunty for Cave comparisons to ever ring that true, the song does share the same bounciness as the Drums hit “Let’s Go Surfing”. Even if it’s more reminiscent of the Drums being told to keep it down by Jack White, the song is a fun and engaging opener. “The Wishbone” showcases the Veils’ more conventionally bluesy side, and would be quite at home on Nux Vomica. Final track “Us Godless Teenagers” and bonus song “Iodine and Iron” are barer, with the former retaining enough of Andrews’ signature jauntiness to ensure a place in the crevices of the listener’s brain....full text |
| Altsounds |
| Trouble Of The Brain EP. Completed at Finn’s home studio at his London base with Bernard Butler on hand for co-producing duties. Opening with the driving, upbeat ‘Bloom,’ which keeps building up to something but never seems to reach its destination, being slightly monotonous but enjoyable at the same time. ‘Don’t Let The Same Bee Sting You Twice’ according to the small press release accompanying the Trouble Of The Brain EP states a Bolan-esque feel which I have to agree with. Finn’s vocals are particularly accomplished with an unexpected change when they become almost drowned out underneath a wave of crashing water or perhaps, lotion for those nuisance bee stings? ‘The Stars Came Out Once The Lights Went Out’ meanwhile, is a lovely pop song which stinks of Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire like-rhythms with a driving piano pumping through the whole length of the track. Together with summery sounding jangly guitars reminding you of summers gone by, ending with a desperate sounding ‘Will I see you again’. Accompanied by one of the most interesting/strangest music videos I’ve seen in a long time, which you can check out below. ‘Wishbone’ is a speed bump in terms of flow thus far, there are interesting things going on but at less than three minutes, I feel it needs more time to develop into well…something. ‘Grey Lynn Park’ is full of beautiful, soft, forlorn and underwhelming sounds encapsulating you in a winter fog. Crisp vocals cutting through it with a distant guitar, which later breaks forward into a wonderful melody. Perfect for those horrible journeys when commuters rucksacks become unwelcome snacks. Closers, ‘Us Godless Teenagers’ and ‘Iodine and Iron’ are both hauntingly beautiful. It feels like Finn is in the room with you, such is the intimacy felt. Strange though, that the Trouble Of The Brain EP began so brightly to then end it all on such a sad note....full text |
| Doubtfulsounds |
| Finn Andrews has been toiling away under the moniker of The Veils since they released their debut The Runaway Found back in 2004. They followed it up with the fantastic and underrated Nux Vomica which seemed to attract critical acclaim but no groundswell of wider popularity. Their last release Sun Kings had moments of greatness but seemed to stray a little from the rancor and vigor of Nux Vomica. Now in 2011 we are graced with a new EP – Troubles Of The Brain - and it shows a definite swing of mood and weight from the grand Cave allusions to a sharper pop approach and some stellar songwriting. Bloom is a shuffling, busy little gem of a tune that has the same momentum of fellow countrymen Surf City, albeit in a much cleaner fashion. It has allusions to post punk but it is strangely devoid of the gloom and heaviness of that genre’s progenitors like Joy Division. As quickly as they establish one mood The Veils spring the EP’s biggest surprise with a glam Bolan-esque stomp on Don’t Let The Same Bee Sting You Twice. It is a rollicking and bold statement of pop songwriting that you rarely hear these days. Wishbone takes things back into gothic territory but now it is more of the swampy kind complete with handclaps ominous guitar riffing and a general mood suggesting something bad is gonna happen. The last trio of songs are all on a much quieter plane with Andrews making one of his few references to his hometown of Auckland, complete with lyrics about Grey Lynn Park and pohutukawa trees. It is a sad lament detailing that empty aftermath of a failed relationship. It is also a great example of the great voice that Andrews possesses – all aching melancholy, and when necessary, a passionate and primal pair of vocal cords. Us Godless Teenagers is stripped back to guitar and his voice that is almost overflowing from the speakers, so close and intimate it has been recorded. It makes for a haunting listen, like Thom Yorke at his most fragile. The final track Iodine And Iron sounds like it is recorded in the desert at night with no visible horizon. Reverb billows out into the nothingness with the final note hanging heavy in the air. As a parting song it seems a long distance from where the EP began with its bright colours and rhythms in motion....full text |
The Veils lyrics
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