A Breath of Sigh by Follow The Train (Review)

A Breath of Sigh indeed… hailing from the same fertile country that brought us My Morning Jacket, Follow the Train is a young quartet who produces extremely lush, intricate, captivating, and breathy pop. A lot of that is due to Dennis Sheridan’s voice, which seems content to simply drift by most of the time. But when he wants to send shivers down your spine and/or put a little catch in your throat, he certainly can.

Musically, the album is rather straightforward and unassuming — until you give it a closer look, that is. The hooks and melodies on these songs are solid right out of the gate, and only become more engaging with each listen. I still get chills thinking about the glorious interplay of chiming guitars and shimmering Rhodes that closes out “I’m Not Sorry” (and let’s not forget Jim James’ ghostly backing vocals). Or the way that “Original Disconnect” finally breaks loose during the bridge, with galloping rhythms and some of the fiercest tambourine action you’re likely to hear all year.

Surprisingly, one of the album’s easiest touchstones is classic Cure material. Granted, you’re probably not going to break out the mascara and pancake make-up while listening to A Breath of Sigh. But the melodies and guitar sounds will remind you that Robert Smith and the boys could be, among other things, one hell of a fine pop group back in the early/mid ’80s.

There’s the Seventeen Seconds-esque sheen on “Thin In The Skin“ ‘s guitars, and the way “Up In Flames” creeps along à la Disintegration’s “Lullaby.” The flourishes pop up in the most unexpected places and guises, such that it certainly doesn’t feel like Follow the Train is trying to ape one of their influences. Rather, I suppose great minds just think alike.

A definite sleeper album, and one that will probably fly under most people’s radars. But I’ve found tracks such as “I’m Not Sorry” and “Afraid” consistently engaging ever since I first popped the disc in the player.