Words: Brian Devereux
Dublin-based indie acoustic group The Ambience Affair have earned a reputation, thanks to their series of well-regarded live performances over the last few years, as being a band who deliver a haunting, worthwhile vibe to the ears of those in attendance. In fact, there are so many different tones and themes running through Burials that it forces the listening to continually re-examine it to make sure every space, chord and note is properly understood.
While listening to 'Burials' may put you in a melancholic mood, the music itself doesn't make the listener feel either happy or sad, nor can you dislike it. Instead, you get the feeling of something significant washing over you, something that leads you to want to understand more about where it is that this music comes from - it's roots, its influences and how it came into being.
Album-opener 'Weeds' serves as a good introduction to The Ambience Affair as a whole. The first 23 seconds contain an assortment of sound which, perhaps, may put off the casual listener before the song springs to life more traditionally, with the rhythm guitar setting a new pace.
The Ambience Affair's influences can be heard loud and clear on Burial. Arcade Fire and Villagers are both in there and vocally you can hear the same intonation and emotion that Marcus Mumford bleeds out in Mumford and Sons. They are the type of band that don't have to worry about being too mainstream (not that that's a bad thing, mind you) and would be right at home appearing on Jools Holland's show, where they would undoubtedly showcase themselves very well.
