No Tender Offering
Folk gets personable on Tender Creature's arresting new EP "An Offering"
Review by Dusk Arts
It would be at once painfully obvious and (in my opinion) a faux pas in art criticism to in any way use the name of an artist or their work to describe or critique the work itself. I imagine that other critics are stopping themselves from picking the low-hanging fruit of describing Tender Creature’s music as tender, but let me lead the chorus of those who do not; such a band name paired with such sounds is only proof of Tender Creature’s self-awareness, indeed, their self-assuredness—and not to acknowledge that would be remiss.
Tender Creature proves that folk music is more than an acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies; it is a people’s music. It doesn’t necessarily spotlight the artists as performers, but the human beings behind the music (rather than merely the music made by the human beings). In doing so, we are made to reconcile art with our species, connecting listener to artist not simply by way of sound, but idea and feeling.
An Offering EP is truly arresting in its quiet beauty. Its naturalness (despite the electronic elements) never succumbs to excessive daintiness or preciousness. I knew that music could be so personable and inviting, but this album is hospitable in a rare way. That being said, though some music is made to get people moving, this is music meant to still us, sit us down, and have us breathe. It’s heard and felt best alone or perhaps with just one other as we slow ourselves and contemplate. My heart could beat in time to the music, and what music it must be to remind us that we have beating hearts! Such is the humanness here I am inspired to wax poetic after every listen.
It would be at once painfully obvious and (in my opinion) a faux pas in art criticism to in any way use the name of an artist or their work to describe or critique the work itself. I imagine that other critics are stopping themselves from picking the low-hanging fruit of describing Tender Creature’s music as tender, but let me lead the chorus of those who do not; such a band name paired with such sounds is only proof of Tender Creature’s self-awareness, indeed, their self-assuredness—and not to acknowledge that would be remiss.
Tender Creature proves that folk music is more than an acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies; it is a people’s music. It doesn’t necessarily spotlight the artists as performers, but the human beings behind the music (rather than merely the music made by the human beings). In doing so, we are made to reconcile art with our species, connecting listener to artist not simply by way of sound, but idea and feeling.
An Offering EP is truly arresting in its quiet beauty. Its naturalness (despite the electronic elements) never succumbs to excessive daintiness or preciousness. I knew that music could be so personable and inviting, but this album is hospitable in a rare way. That being said, though some music is made to get people moving, this is music meant to still us, sit us down, and have us breathe. It’s heard and felt best alone or perhaps with just one other as we slow ourselves and contemplate. My heart could beat in time to the music, and what music it must be to remind us that we have beating hearts! Such is the humanness here I am inspired to wax poetic after every listen.
The opener and title track “An Offering” explores the travels of life, whether they take us to the next town over, the next continent, or through our very selves—often courtesy of the unavoidable changes we must face in our lives. A gingerly acoustic guitar gives mind to the trepidation felt during these journeys, but the steady electronic beat and synth bass encourage us to keep moving. The close vocal harmony shows us that we needn’t travel alone either, or that companionship itself may be the destination. We may return home, but it seems that even the perennial and the familiar are wont to provide new opportunities when revisited.
“If Anyone Asks” is sweet-bitter-sweet, with a chorus built on a classic and irresistible chord progression. Dual vocal lines play us out nicely as we understand that even through hardship there is chance to grow. No need to unnecessarily worry others as long as we don’t unnecessarily worry ourselves.
The cover of Anais Mitchell’s “Coming Down” is a perfect complement to the rest of the album. A powerfully plaintive cello teaches us that good things can never last and part of life is the endless search for more of them, no to mention the endless struggle to maintain the good that we do have in our lives. Channeled through band members Steph and Robert, Anais’s words echo An Offering’s other sentiments: we must take advantage of the opportunities we come across or else make them; there is no life in idling.
It’s hard to believe that “The Quietest Car” is a six minute song. Occasionally, when we feel, moment after moment can pass us by, and—being an illustration of time lost both in the noise of modern life but also the wide open where we have everywhere and nowhere to go—such a realization is very relevant to the song. As it says, we can certainly lose ourselves in “the salt and the sand and the sea and the snow,” but just the same can happen in the eponymous “quietest car” as we’re whisked away past home should we forget to get off at our stop. The instrumentals here primarily evoke the imagery of this quiet, contemplative space, but faint waves of almost shoegaze-like distorted guitar fade out the song and may represent the aforementioned static and noise that comes with a life lived in public, in society, in civilization. On the other hand, they also call back to the “gentle offering” of “the rising of the tide” in the title track. We’re enveloped by this warm blanket as we get lost in the quietest car—but we must get up sometime; a new day is always dawning. This dual meaning (no false dichotomy) only gives us more to think about and only gives the music depth.
“If Anyone Asks” is sweet-bitter-sweet, with a chorus built on a classic and irresistible chord progression. Dual vocal lines play us out nicely as we understand that even through hardship there is chance to grow. No need to unnecessarily worry others as long as we don’t unnecessarily worry ourselves.
The cover of Anais Mitchell’s “Coming Down” is a perfect complement to the rest of the album. A powerfully plaintive cello teaches us that good things can never last and part of life is the endless search for more of them, no to mention the endless struggle to maintain the good that we do have in our lives. Channeled through band members Steph and Robert, Anais’s words echo An Offering’s other sentiments: we must take advantage of the opportunities we come across or else make them; there is no life in idling.
It’s hard to believe that “The Quietest Car” is a six minute song. Occasionally, when we feel, moment after moment can pass us by, and—being an illustration of time lost both in the noise of modern life but also the wide open where we have everywhere and nowhere to go—such a realization is very relevant to the song. As it says, we can certainly lose ourselves in “the salt and the sand and the sea and the snow,” but just the same can happen in the eponymous “quietest car” as we’re whisked away past home should we forget to get off at our stop. The instrumentals here primarily evoke the imagery of this quiet, contemplative space, but faint waves of almost shoegaze-like distorted guitar fade out the song and may represent the aforementioned static and noise that comes with a life lived in public, in society, in civilization. On the other hand, they also call back to the “gentle offering” of “the rising of the tide” in the title track. We’re enveloped by this warm blanket as we get lost in the quietest car—but we must get up sometime; a new day is always dawning. This dual meaning (no false dichotomy) only gives us more to think about and only gives the music depth.
“Count to Five” is a song about trusting the one closest to us. Besides the dual vocals of the pair in the song’s story, Tender Creature was right to carry the song almost entirely on one ukulele, topping it off only with a sublimely tasteful solo on the instrument (the one player playing off the other: trust). As a result, the music reflects the message all too well. Often written off as one of the quainter, daintier instruments, the ukulele shines here as a succinct expression of the simple yet deceptively difficult act of trusting another human being.
Though its members are veteran musicians, Tender Creature as a new band has made a more-than promising start in a genre that far too few people even know exists. They do folktronica justice with an approach that allows the folk and electronica to blend seamlessly (such a fusion need not be eclectic), while still coming from an indie-folk perspective. Hopefully, this will get them the crossover appeal they deserve, as An Offering contains countless worthwhile elucidations on dealing with the uncertainties of life. These uncertainties are indeed scary, but that doesn’t mean that we have to worry as long as we heed the wisdom here.
Recommended for the introspective who examine the past, present, and future, delving not into the trees of nostalgia and neurosis, but seeing the forest of lessons that can be learned.
Though its members are veteran musicians, Tender Creature as a new band has made a more-than promising start in a genre that far too few people even know exists. They do folktronica justice with an approach that allows the folk and electronica to blend seamlessly (such a fusion need not be eclectic), while still coming from an indie-folk perspective. Hopefully, this will get them the crossover appeal they deserve, as An Offering contains countless worthwhile elucidations on dealing with the uncertainties of life. These uncertainties are indeed scary, but that doesn’t mean that we have to worry as long as we heed the wisdom here.
Recommended for the introspective who examine the past, present, and future, delving not into the trees of nostalgia and neurosis, but seeing the forest of lessons that can be learned.
Tender Creature's EP "An Offering" in available now on the platform of your choice!
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