Courtney Barnett – End of the Day
The Australian indie-rock sensation trades in her signature sardonic songwriting for contemplative and complex instrumental meditation on new album End of the Day, and the results are mixed
Courtney Barnett shot to fame thanks to her sharp rock riffs, dry lyrics and her matter-of-fact delivery, musing on everyday life. This is what makes her latest release, an entirely instrumental affair, such an audacious effort. Originally written as the score for documentary Anonymous Club, End of the Day represents a significant musical departure for the Sydney-born songwriter.
End of the Day is a series of improvised instrumental tracks which flow seamlessly into each other, with no defined beginning or end. There are no choruses or catchy hooks. The album seeks to create emotional resonance through sparse synth and airy guitar, creating a sense of space that allows the mind to wander. On occasion, it does accomplish this, and it is impressive the way these wordless tracks can evoke feelings of reflection and contemplation. (Electricity), River and Like Water are the best examples of this, giving us a glimpse into the mind of Barnett.
As a standalone record, End of the Day does not always justify its existence. Some tracks are simply too empty, leaving a noticeable divide between audience and artist. It takes a concerted effort to listen to the album as a single track, and it perhaps would be best enjoyed alongside the film it was first written to accompany.
Listen to: (Electricity), River, Like Water.