Lost on Purpose
Rising Wildfires (CD-R)
 Here comes Wil Holland, with a pocket full of indie pop songs that on the surface seem to be the simple ruiminations of yet another bedroom boy in angst mode, but in truth beg some deeper investigation. What the Shmat first mistook for an almost note for note copy of the intro to Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay", in turn forms the entry point ("Everyone Else Is Still Sleeping") to a disc of mixed density and dynamics. Certainly, the straightforward acoustic guitar strums ring reminiscient of Smith's self titled second album. But under the moniker "Lost On Purpose", Holland seeks a blending of the balladeer with the conceptualist. He attempts to cultivate an expansion of the songwriter-in-a-box methodology to include more of a textural approach to songs. The Shmat found this to be quite an interesting balancing act, and one worth listening to.
Indeed, the first 2 songs exhibit that gradual ramping up of dynamics and layering that are the bread and butter of acts like God Speed Ye Black Emperor and Mogwai. The track after that, however, "One Day I'll Be Gone", is a more standardly performed (though no less ably) emotive mid-tempo rocker and forms a nice bridge into one of the Shmat's favorite tracks which was the somewhat creepy sounding "Are You Ready". Holland combines those Smith-like acoustic eighth notes with a wispy, sinister melody that speaks of "misdirected lies". In another universe, his voice could have been used quite capably on any number of E6/twee bands like the Gerbils and Tullycraft. But here, it blends together with the music in a more subdued atmosphere and near the end of the track eventually descends into somewhat forbidding stereo whispers. Mysterious and thought-provoking...
With "Suasian", he shows that it's not all doom and gloom at the Lost on Purpose factory with a quirky bass-driven ditty that a modernized Syd Barrett might have written. The title track "Rising Wildfires" provides some sort of interesting reverse guitar swells that lead to a poppier number that reminded the Shmat of Imperial Teen, Papas Fritas and Beulah. "Two Month Crush" is a hushed ballad with some finely strummed, mandolin-like acoustic guitar. The sunnier "False Hopes" ends on the poignant refrain of "How am I supposed to live with you out there?" And quite amazing and lush harmonies abound throughout "Using Yvgheny".
Throughout these ten songs, the overall feel ranges from bare bones acoustic to orchestral manuevers worthy of Badly Drawn Boy. This is what the Shmat likes to hear coming out of bedrooms across the land. Songs of introspection that have flowered beyond the point of simply providing an anxiety outlet for overactive guys with guitars. That extra effort to provide something else to grasp onto beyond the first listens is so important, and Lost On Purpose provides this in spades.
- review by SHMAT (6.1.04)
1444 North Poinsettia Place
Suite 111
Los Angeles, CA 90046
lostonpurpose@hotmail.com
www.lostonpurpose.com
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