Pretty Girls Make Graves - 'Elan Vital' (Matador) Released 03/04/06

Three years on from the sprawling density and inventiveness of ‘The New Romance’ Seattle’s purveyors of bristling art-hardcore Pretty Girls Make Graves are back with a few changes in tow. ‘Elan Vital’ is the first body of work put together by the band since the departure of guitarist Nathan Thelen back in 2004 and the entrance of keyboardist Leona Marrs. The fact that the quintet have monikered the eleven songs here with a term that defines a hypothetical force thought to cause the evolution and development of organisms serves notice that we should not expect more of the same and this is most definitely true. ‘Elan Vital’ drastically modifies the blue print first seen on ‘Good Health’ and then developed upon throughout ‘The New Romance’.

Pretty Girls Make Graves have never been straight forward, yes they arose out of America’s east coast hardcore scene but they always had the ability to go to places their contempories couldn’t. The forceful duelling guitars were abated with moments of melodic beauty and Andrea Zollo’s searing Riot Grrrl gesticulations backed by Derek Fudesco helped set them apart from the pack. On ‘Elan Vital’ it’s these two areas that have been evolved the most. On many of the songs Zollo has toned back her trademark shrieks for a more considered delivery while the keys of Marrs replace one of the string attack duo adding greater warmth and, dare we say it, even more invention.

However, ‘Elan Vital’ opens out with a track that is closest to that of the PGMG of old. ‘The Nocturnal House’ has at once the twangy fervour and swirling compactness recognisable from ‘The New Romance’ but from the second we leave its closing bars that is the last we see of the Graves we knew. There are moments on this record when the band are almost unrecognisable form that has come before, from the incessant complexity, marching drums and fresh air organs of ‘Pyrite Pedestal’ to the piano led multi-layered call to arms of ‘Parade’ the varied and diverse arrangements thrown up on ‘Elan Vital’ are a joy to behold.