Arkells: Laundry Pile
October 15th, 2023
On September 21st, Canadian band Arkell’s released their 8th studio album Laundry Pile. Following album Blink Twice (released in 2022), which consisted of dynamic alternative rock anthems dotted with surprise collaborations, Laundry Pile has traded in Arkell’s signature dancy guitar and bass for more heavy, folk influenced-acoustic, and orchestral arrangements; making an album just right for the wistful and deep contemplation of autumn.
Consisting of 10 songs, this release has taken a step towards the distinctly intimate; and feels like a glimpse of a love affair behind a closed door. With their use of acoustic guitar and heavy piano, a deep-seated longing courses through the veins of this album pumping hints of nostalgia into each song.
The beginning of the album is marked with the existential track “Life Is” which explores finding hope in the hopelessness of existence through the love of another. One of the rawest sounds on the album, this blunt melody collects a calmness around the feeling of chaos that follows the unknown and sets a tone of surrender to your feelings that follows through this release.
Though Arkell’s have kept remnants of melodies past with fast-paced songs that align with their usual M.O. such as “Skin” and “Shot In The Dark,” songs like “Tango Waltz” that consists of a full one minute and thirty seconds of a string composition, paint a stark contrast that elicits an uncomfortable yet captivating feeling before bursting into piano. Like many of the lyrics on this album, “Tango Waltz” reads more as a spoken plea for a private space than something that should be shared too freely making Laundry Pile an album that can only be described as a work that has been felt, rather than exclusively written.
We can only be left to wonder, if Laundry Pile is simply an artistic exploration of sound for Arkell’s, or if it marks a distinct shift in their discography pointing to a new era.
Make sure you check out Arkell’s Laundry Pile on all streaming platforms.
-Before Tomorrow
