Petra
Concord, 2019
8/10
The solo project of Anthony LaMarca, who might be better known as the guitarist for The War On Drugs, as The Building the multi-instrumentalist pens cathartic and moving tunes as he fights cancer, often writing songs during treatment.
“Transformed” gets the listen off to an atmospheric start with hazy, ambient texturing and brief, poetic singing, and “All Things New” follows with acoustic strumming alongside LaMarca’s smooth, expressive pipes as keys complement the setting.
Elsewhere, “Warning” offers gentle percussion on the reserved and elegant tune, while “When I Think Of You” shuffles feedback around before settling into a singer-songwriter delivery that soars with higher notes as LaMarca explores his falsetto.
Deeper cuts bring us “Never Was Alone”, which is one of the prettiest tunes, and “Peace’s Eternal Truth Renews All” exits the listen bare and intimate, emphasizing the rawness and care that LaMarca put into every selection here.
An album named after both his German Shepherd as well as being an acronym for the last track, LaMarca takes help from his brother and wife on guitar and cello, and the result is an extremely thoughtful, eloquent and forthright peek into one of the most creative minds in today’s indie-rock scene.
Travels well with: Owen- Ghost Town; Leonard Cohen- You Want It Darker