Tindersticks Can Our Love...

Tindersticks

Can Our Love... (Beggars Banquet)

It's been four years since Tindersticks' last domestic release, but adventurous listeners likely sought out 1999's Simple Pleasures, a studio LP that was never released in the U.S., which represented a detour for Nottingham's masters of melancholy. With a heavy infusion of Seventies soul, they tried a little tenderness and it paid off, allowing some latitude in their dissection of despair. On Can Our Love…, the 'sticks stay within established territory, but they've carefully contemplated their surroundings and figured out exactly what goes where. "People Keep Comin' Around" establishes a simple groove that forms the heart of the song, with all the usual accompaniments making an appearance -- strings, organ, keyboards, horns -- and yet somehow, the sound remains minimal. When the organ creeps in, it's barely noticeable, but creates ample tension. It's a neat trick, building intensity without whacking you over the head, and it's a less-is-more philosophy that pervades the album. Echoing this musical shift, the overt dramatics of previous efforts give way to meditations on the complexities of human interaction. The title track, with its delicately arpeggiated wah guitar and rim-tapped tempo, sports all the trappings of a tender love song. When it asks, "Can our love grow any further?" the casual listener is tempted to think it's a declaration of ecstasy, but more likely, it signals the end of the road. Though never heavy handed, Tindersticks have been somewhat relentless in their portrayal of the darker side of things. Their two latest efforts have ushered in a subtler, more upbeat, and ultimately more sophisticated sound, but fear not, they're still down in the dumps. The refrain from opener "Dying Slowly" is a succinct encapsulation of this new approach: "This dying slowly, it seemed better than shooting myself."