Review: The Secession Movement

The Secession Movement
“Ak-e-dem-ik”
(Keep Safe Records)

Crafty changes and engaging arrangements spruce up erratic and twisted pop ideals.  At times, taking the less traveled path to melodic, it swerves and collides with an admirable sloppy intention.  The tempos often stamp their way to attention as plucky and spastic rhythms create tension, layering it with even more chaotic structuring by applying a more manic intensity and volume.  The singer has a higher dry rasp and gets more credit for his energy than ability.  When he drops high voice coo’s on top of his accents, it’s a bad pill.  There is charm within the Secession Movement as it’s hard to dismiss such an ambitious approach.  There are good portions of this album that are just pleasant melodic indie rock, meandering without vocals, and this is The Secession Movement at it’s best.  Capturing it’s intent with music, as the level of creativity going into that aspect seems to far outweigh the vocal capabilities of David Downham, despite their ‘grow on ya’ qualities.  But there are moments here, many many moments that the band captures something very artistic and pleasantly complex.  Sometimes almost rocking in a tragically dramatic way, too smart for it’s own good.  It’s a different flavor, blended distinctly for a palette open to a more experimental flare in their indie rock.  It took a few listens to peal back the layers, but in the end, this is keeper for its engaging flare for the unexpected and mood capturing passages of intricate composure.