Receiving the Evcharist is our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations. Drink from the cup of heresy. This week’s offering: Respire’s Dénouement and Captain Fatty’s Brewing Company’s Calypso Cucumber Sour Ale.
The Metal: Respire’s Dénouement
Listening to Respire’s Dénouement is like listening to about four albums at the same time. You have the rich textures and soaring melodies of post-rock, heavy aggression that utilizes elements of both black metal and skramz, and the wistfulness of modern emo a la empire! empire! (i was a lonely estate)*. Plus some saxophone, because why not? If all of this sounds like it could never work, you’ll be proven wrong in the first track alone, and things only get better from there. This is an album that takes you from the depths of darkness in “Haunt” to the uplifting crescendo of the instrumental “Bloom,” masterfully weaving together various disparate instrumentation and influences, ever shifting in form but always staying true to a core of heartfelt songwriting. Dénouement is something that not only works as a cohesive whole, but achieves an emotional resonance that plenty of others who play at this style of music fall short of. Respire have been my biggest surprise this year, and have created something that I feel has a sure shot to land among the best things I will hear all year.
*Author’s Note: the entirety of my persona can basically be summed up with an e! e! reference dropped into a review on a metal site. Duality of man and all that.
The Booze: Captain Fatty’s Brewing Company’s Calypso Cucumber Sour Ale
Our continuing quest to find something to stave off the worst of a Southern California heat wave brings us to Captain Fatty’s Brewing Company’s Calypso, a sour Berliner Weisse flavored with cucumber. I know what you’re thinking, and yeah, it is kind of reminiscent of drinking pickle juice, if you took all the garlic and dill and other accouterments out of the equation, but it’s really not as bad as it sounds (and I come from a family of pickle juice apologists anyway). Calypso does have a distinct tartness and saltiness to it, but it is smooth and sweet on top of these to balance it out. The cucumber gives it a clean and refreshing finish, and gives a sunny disposition to the brew. This is the ultimate cool-off.
Down the drain goes another week. I’ll check back with you next time. Until then,
Cheers, and be good to each other,
– Vincent
Nine Circles 