SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HOLY WAVE – FIVE OF CUPS

HOLY WAVE
FIVE OF CUPS
SUICIDE SQUEEZE RECORDS

Esoteric is the term that qualifies all somewhat special, often mystical things that are of interest to a very specific group of people. That surely includes Tarot cards and Tarot readings.

It is not unusual for rock musicians to touch upon the theme, and Texas band Holy Wave do that too on their latest release, Five of Cups. The title actually refers to a specific card in a Tarot deck that signifies loss and grief, and that is actually the key to understanding this intriguing album that musically touches upon quite a few elements – from good old psychedelia, to slowcore, to dream pop. Lyrically, of course, loss and grief are the key themes here.

Often, artists venturing into that territory have a tendency to either overdramatize or be too melodramatic or mushy, both with music or lyrics, but Holy Wave come out of this experience gracefully in both aspects with some intriguing left-field musical combinations and some equally graceful lyrics.

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