PLUMERAI: Res Cogitans

Plumerai

Res Cogitans

© 2006 plumerai (634479377983)

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Ethereal pop topped with sultry vocals and a left hook.

notes

...The songs are all stirring numbers, from the trampling, 7-minute rock number "Avernal" featuring an eastern European tinge to the Cure-cum-Sundays "Linear," a track that would have been famous on MTV's 120 Minutes. The song - which would make an ideal single, features Elizabeth Ezell's pining, straining vocals. Some would say that Beth Orton or Chan Marshall are both clearly in her class but her vocal draw comes without peer among pop contemporaries. Her lightning shudders are sexy deeply affecting the winking guitars, swinging beat, and by the end loses herself in the crashing mix…..Song craft becomes the star, backbones provided by Martin Newman's deeply reverb fed guitars and a rhythm section with the undercurrent of libidinous undulation. The result is a warm, enthralling sound……This Boston area quartet twines dreamy and uncommon strings, and ultimately their EP is a short, yet rewarding listen. That assessment is true from top to bottom of Res Cogitans, a taste -- a sample, a trifling of rock extraordinary, before it's done." - Kevchino.com

reviews

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  • most of all
    author: Pitchfork Media

    Credit James Newman and his antsy bass for grafting a cab-forward groove to his usual new-shoegaze synths, and for making Boston-based Plumerai sound like Stereolab giving free reign to their darkest urges. Don't credit the vibraphone though, which gives the song a disagreeably jazzy feel even though it doesn't disrupt the flow. Do credit Elizabeth Ezell for killing herself softly with this song. Her voice breaks gently on each syllable, creating a strange and soulful vibrato that communicates her anguish easily and gracefully, not unlike Karen O ripping her heart out, ballad-style. Most of all, credit Plumerai for crafting a song that draws from popular influences, without coasting on them.

  • This stirring 21-minute EP has proven that the Boston-based quartet is more than
    author: New England Performer Magazine

    Combining the sounds of many popular groups like Evanescence and The Cure, yet adding a harder tone with vibrating female vocals, Plumerai emerges with driven and appealing music that gets better with every listen. Plumerai's four-track EP shows incredible force and diversity. Interchanging between the influences of trip hop, rock, and some post punk, the quartet's music is difficult to categorize. They've been characterized as a pop band, but such a match is difficult to make because Plumerai deserves credit for their unmistakable sophistication and substance. "Avernal," the EP's first track, kicks off with the concentrated guitar and drum contributions of Martin Newman, Todd Richards, and James Newman. Effectively portraying their ability to play within the conventional music styles, Plumerai inserts a subtle and driven back-melody behind the main melody. The enrapturing vocals of lead singer Elizabeth Ezell are unmistakable. Pinning listeners to her ethereal vocal styles in the track, Ezell conveys both warmth and a haunting sentiment, two beautiful emotions that reside with listeners throughout the Res Cognitans EP. Starting with quick reverberations of notes on the guitar, "Linear" grabs listeners from the first measure. As soon as the echoing guitar effect settles in, an uptempo snare enters the track during the guitar's offbeat. The EP's most cheerful track, "Linear" absorbs the listener as Ezell's slower paced lyrics match up against the quick background music of the composition. The lyrical pace in the song's chorus quickens to match the swinging pace of the musical background, and Plumerai reveal their catchy pop tendencies with the infectious "Linear." Plumerai covers a vast expanse of the music world in Res Cognitans. This stirring 21-minute EP has proven that the Boston-based quartet is more than ready to proceed to the next step in the music business. January of 2007 marks the release of Plumerai's forthcoming debut full-length album, and with it are great expectations from the band and listeners alike. (Silber Records)

  • author: www.mundanesounds.com

    Plumerai is a bit of a different kind of band for Silber, in that it's a pop band. Okay, it's a pop band that's more influenced by Portishead, The Sundays, Lush, and other bands from that early-90s Britpop era. Not that they're Britpop, but they've definitely got that sexy, moody sound thing down. Res Cogitans is a four-song EP, but those four songs are so substantial and meaty, you're left both wanting more and feeling quite satisfied. I really, really dig the sexy singing style of Elizabeth Ezell. All four songs are interesting, and all of them are new favorites, but I really dig the seven-minute "Avernal" and the shimmery, should-be-a-hit "Illuminata." Great music, and hopefully the promises delivered here will be followed through next year with their forthcoming LP.

  • The four-piece’s latest EP is almost as thought-provoking as Swiss philosophy (b
    author: www.musicemissions.com

    “Taken from the theories of 17th century Swiss philosopher Rene Descartes, Res Cogitans translates roughly as "occurrence thorough consideration," an offshoot of the much more famous Descartes deduction: "I think, therefore I am." Zap forward four centuries to Boston, and occurrence finds its direction from Plumerai’s consideration. The four-piece’s latest EP is almost as thought-provoking as Swiss philosophy (but rest assured, much more thrilling) and defies labeling. That said, let’s give it shot: Res Cogitans is complicatedly ethereal, moving forward with a delicate grace that could only be supplied by Elizabeth Ezell’s equally flowing voice. While Plumerai only gives us a 4-song taste of what is to come, each song flows forward for about 5 minutes, moving from small beats to explosive climaxes, patiently transitioning the listener from emotion to emotion. "En Vole" ("Be Willing to Behold") drips with maturity and elegance, and with added spices of foreign influences, it’s hard to believe that such a sound came out of Boston. Anything but, "Linear" combines a bouncy beat with almost shoegaze touches, moving into "Illuminate," a mysterious orchestral ride that just goes to show anything can be expected from Plumerai. If they continue to put this much consideration and thought into their music, their new album should make quite a splash indeed.."

  • ounding something like the genetic culmination of Hope Sandoval, Polly Jean Harv
    author: www.graveconcernsezine.com

    “Following on the heels of their self-titled full-length and encompassing a number of lineup changes, res cogitans, the new 4-song EP from Boston's Plumerai, showcases more of the shoegazing ethereal rock that's made a name for them on both the local and national scenes. Sounding something like the genetic culmination of Hope Sandoval, Polly Jean Harvey, and Melora Creager, frontwoman Elizabeth Ezell's lush, sensual warble leads the way through four tracks of moody, catchy, diverse post-punk-influenced alt rock. The opening "Avernal" is easily the disc's best, its moody rock delivery and catchy chorus hook certainly delivering, while the following "Linear" is nearly on-par, a poppier and almost equally infectious affair that almost recalls The Sugarcubes. Unfortunately, "Illuminata", sounding uncannily like the band's attempt to rewrite the James Bond theme, is fair but less satisfying. The sultry rock of the closing "En Vole", however, recovers relatively well with its Latin undertones and Italian accordion accents. With a new album apparently slated for 2007, expect to hear a lot more from Plumerai in the next year. Until then, the res cogitans EP is a mixed but, overall, satisfying slice of shoegazer-infused alt rock/pop.”

  • The four-piece’s latest EP is almost as thought-provoking as Swiss philosophy (b
    author: www.musicemissions.com

    “Taken from the theories of 17th century Swiss philosopher Rene Descartes, Res Cogitans translates roughly as "occurrence thorough consideration," an offshoot of the much more famous Descartes deduction: "I think, therefore I am." Zap forward four centuries to Boston, and occurrence finds its direction from Plumerai’s consideration. The four-piece’s latest EP is almost as thought-provoking as Swiss philosophy (but rest assured, much more thrilling) and defies labeling. That said, let’s give it shot: Res Cogitans is complicatedly ethereal, moving forward with a delicate grace that could only be supplied by Elizabeth Ezell’s equally flowing voice. While Plumerai only gives us a 4-song taste of what is to come, each song flows forward for about 5 minutes, moving from small beats to explosive climaxes, patiently transitioning the listener from emotion to emotion. "En Vole" ("Be Willing to Behold") drips with maturity and elegance, and with added spices of foreign influences, it’s hard to believe that such a sound came out of Boston. Anything but, "Linear" combines a bouncy beat with almost shoegaze touches, moving into "Illuminate," a mysterious orchestral ride that just goes to show anything can be expected from Plumerai. If they continue to put this much consideration and thought into their music, their new album should make quite a splash indeed.."

  • Plumerai 'res cogitans' in lunar-hypnosis
    author: Lunar Hypnosis

    Silber Records seems to be really good at releasing music that I generally don’t know quite exactly how to describe, but I always end up loving everything I receive from them. Thanks, I like that! Now if only more labels were like this… The Boston, Massachusetts based band Plumerai is another one of those Silber bands that I’m enjoying a lot, but really don’t know if my following description of the band will do them justice. To me there sound is some sort of dark ethereal pop with nice rocking moments and lead by the stunning vocals of Elizabeth Ezell. Joining Elizabeth is Todd Richards on drums, and the Newman brothers Martin & James on guitars, keyboards, and bass. When I listen to this short EP I get the impression that there drawing some influence from Goth/Alternative/Pop/Rock artists like The Cure, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Portishead, but all in all Plumerai seems like a rather unique creation. What also makes Plumerai special is that each of the four songs present sound different. ‘Avernal’ has the most dark pop sounding elements and the song often times brings Trip Hop artists like Portishead, Massive Attack and The Third & The Mortal to mind. ‘Linear’ is definitely the most 80’s Goth/Rock/Pop influenced song, sounding almost like a lost song from The Cure’s mid-80’s work, while ‘Illuminata’ is similar with a groovy bass line, backing keyboards, and a really catchy chorus, but returns a bit more to the darker sounding approach. ‘En Vole’ is also rather different adding in an accordion to their unique dark pop rock sound. All things considered Plumerai delivers a real gem with their ‘Res Cogitans’ EP and I look very much forward to their next album, which will either be out later this year or early 2007. Keep your eyes open for this one.

  • Yet if the four tracks on Res Cognitan are anything to go by, they are miles ahe
    author: Left Hip

    Plumerai’s latest release may only be a small four-track EP but to the band itself it marks big changes. Two years after their first release, Plumerai are much more defined and sturdy, having solidified their line up to four members and, perhaps most importantly, gained more artistic control over their production. All of which has given Plumerai an altogether more dynamic sound which is clearly evidential on Res Cognitans. “Avernal” opens the EP and is a delightfully dreamy creation, the drums gentile and inoffensive (until the last two minutes that is) mixed with soothing guitars, all complimenting the arousing, sultry voice of Elizabeth Ezell. While Plumerai have developed their own sound their influences are clearly defined, whether it’s the music compositions that share similarity in sound to new wave acts like The Smiths, to Ezell’s voice that is already being compared to PJ Harvey’s. “Linear” is a fine example of their influences hitting the mark perfectly, the catchy guitar work that is both pop and anti-pop simultaneously due to its melancholy feeling yet danceable beats. Mixed with the soft vocals of Ezell, “Linear” is a track that The Cure would certainly be proud of. There is definitely a cabaret quality to Ezell’s vocals and throughout it suits the mood of the music perfectly as with “En Vole” a piece where even the accordion gets a little more prominence than before. It’s unsurprising however that the cabaret element is there as Res Cognitans was recorded live, copying to CD the true untouched elements of the band which makes for a much more interesting and powerful release than just another studio outing. With retro electro rock (et al) being the big fad that it is at the moment, Plumerai will certainly have to put the hours in to ensure they don’t fall victim of its ephemeral and superficial charms. Yet if the four tracks on Res Cognitan are anything to go by, they are miles ahead of the majority in both sound and concept already.

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