Watchhouse: Old Ties and Companions

I’d heard of the band Mandolin Orange before, but apparently never really listened to them. Because their name now is Watchhouse and I’m absolutely taken with their album “Such Jubilee”.

In particular, I’ve been looping “Old Ties and Companions” a great deal. I just cannot get enough of this song.

I’m not sure what it is, but my favorite part of this song is the way Andrew Marlin sings the word “sever.” A big part of it is the slight pause that happens, before the word arrives.

There’s just this satisfying use of that word, and perhaps it’s the absence of any sing-songy follow-up rhyme to the word that I love. The word “never” follows, but it’s a very subtle rhyme that almost sneaks past you, quietly.

I’ve become incredibly enamored of this whole album, and this first song is what I hear in my head lately. I know I encountered their music in passing some years ago, but I wish I would have given them a bit more attention. The way I’m replaying this album, I imagine I’ll love their other work as well.

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Mipso