AU – Verbs

Verbs, the sophomore album by Portland experimental pop collective Au, is so incredibly amorphous that it’s probably best described as a journey. What starts as a mournful cacophony of more than twenty singers (‘All My Friends’) becomes a lush orchestral stage piece (‘Are Animals’) which becomes a frenzy of African tribal song and dance (‘Summerheat’) which becomes a jubilant ragtime marching band (‘All Myself’). Then there’s the dreamlike minimalism of songs like ‘Two Seasons’ and ‘Prelude’, which provide sudden moments of pause. The tracks may seem a little abstract for some, but it’s hard not to get swept up in this beautiful and crazy wash of sound.

AU – Verbs
PopFrenzy
3.5/5

Hugh Milligan.