It took us a while to fully explore ‘Fractions of a Whole’. In fact, we are probably not done; it’s a nuanced, eclectic and meaningful body of work, a gentle tapestry of alt-folk and indie stylings, all wrapped up in complex and deep arrangements, sometimes quite ethereal and evocative, other times rawer and sleazier; in any case, a constant remains the same: Reggie O’Farrell and Rachel Hansbro’s soft vocals, heading the Texan project towards its best-performing livery.
References are far and wide: if the album’s opener, ‘Noctambulism’, seems to delve into Bon Iver-esque territories, follow-up ‘Stitches’ reminds us of Modest Mouse’ wittiness and playful character. In essence, it’s a record that likes to think big, navigating the last twenty years of indie extravaganza. A fitting formula for a project that aims to be collaborative, featuring a rotating cast of live members.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Fractions of a Whole’, The Western Civilization explain: “The main theme of the record (mostly) is gratitude. There are some outliers of course. Rachel writes the lions share of the lyrics and she has described it as kind of a thank you letter to her friends and family that have gotten her through the hard times”.
Recommended! Discover ‘Fractions of a Whole’ on Spotify:
