It’s no grand coincedence that Amy Millan’s second solo LP, Masters of the Burial was released in late September. Depending on your geographical location (And if the Gods have been smiling on you, I suppose) late September is the time for lazy evenings spent soaking up every last bit of sun. And it’s damn near impossible to think that Millan didn’t record if only a single cut from Masters of the Burial out on the back porch in the fading sunlight. Masters of the Burial shouldn’t be classified as a “Lazy” record by any means, but there’s a casual, harmless approach to Millan’s gentle folk musings that lends itself to those kinds of nights.
Opening with “Bruised Ghosts,” a dusty acoustic sway, which features a steel pedal guitar that moves at a snail’s pace, Millan sets the tone for the record very early on. Her time spent in indie stalwarts Stars and Broken Social Scene are evident, as horns and strings frequent the background of Masters of the Burial. The pace of the record is so constant and absorbing that playing this record while slow-dancing might have you and your partner dancing throughout all 11 tracks without even knowing it.
This might be the only downside to an otherwise beautiful record. Sharing her deliciously raspy voice in various bands from Los Angeles to Montreal means that at some point in her life, Millan probably had to take a chance or two. A little bit of variation probably wouldn’t hurt Masters of the Burial, though it might throw off the overall sway. And if there’s one thing anyone knows about a late summer evening, it’s not to fuck with things even in the slightest.
By Joshua Kloke
[Rating: 3/5]
