Time is a very confusing concept. It is something that can be wasted but never saved, it can fly by or it can slow down to a crawl. Whichever way you flip it, the clock is ticking and the sand in the hourglass is falling like the first snow of winter. For Glitterer, the solo project of bassist Ned Russin turned full band, time always seems to be on their side. Their discography is filled with glimpses into the psyche of a prolific songwriter stretching his imagination with nothing but a laptop, his instruments, and himself. Time always seems to bring change and even the best time-warpers succumb to this truth, Glitterer has evolved. What is now a full-blown band with the addition of keyboardist Nicole Dao, drummer Jonas Farah, and guitarist Connor Morin; they are stepping out as a unit for the first time with the release of Rationale. Coming in at 12 songs with not a single one running over three minutes, every note matters, and not one is wasted.
Rationale is not only our introduction to the new formation of Glitterer, it unveils a new side of frontman Russin that was hidden on past releases. Seemingly, the relief of not doing everything by himself allowed the former Title Fight bassist to truly come into his own as a songwriter/vocalist. Powerful vocal performances that cut through the chaotic post-punk arrangements that drive their nuance home. Rather than get drowned out by the full band, the frontman opts to pen some of his best work as Glitterer to cut through the dense textures and subtle musicianship. The vocals seamlessly transition from ear-burning rasp to melodic pop-punk in the blink of an eye. As the band has evolved, so has its fearless frontman.
On the surface, this tracklist can bleed together. With the blistering tempos and distorted melodies mixed with the short song lengths, the album can pass in the blink of an eye. This forced the band to put their all into every single moment of this album, leaving very little room for error. Thankfully, the addition of the full band allows even the quickest bursts of energy to sound mature and meaningful. Their larger-than-life baselines and searing guitar tempos pack the perfect punch. Like an expert boxer, every explosive blow is calculated and purposeful. Glitterer values their time as much as ours, by packing so many emotions into such a short runtime allows the emotions to sound heavy and palpable. The most noticeable addition is the guitar work of Morin. On a song like “The Same Ordinary”, his shredding is crisp and adds some hectic textures to the whole track. Such is the case in most of Rationale, blazing guitars are only met by equally booming vocals that cut through hypnotic synths and neck-breaking drums, all uplifting the vulnerable poetry penned here.
Time is a valuable thing and Glitterer has mastered the craft of not wasting a second. Rationale welcomes us to a new and very exciting era for the band, one that is starting with a hell of an introduction. The 12 songs here nod to Russin’s solo work while showcasing the futuristic chemistry of the newly established lineup. An artist is meant to evolve, and Glitterer seems to be getting better and better at a rapid pace with Rationale placing them in an unfamiliar territory that suits the band perfectly.
