Faultline - Your Love Means Everything

Faultline’s second album, YOUR LOVE MEANS EVERYTHING, starts off beautifully, with the icy grace of the title track. But this album adds a new texture—vocals—that are both a blessing and a curse. Chris Martin lends his emotion to “Where Is My Boy?” for a haunting track, and Jacob Golden brings a bright falsetto to the folksy “Bitter Kiss.” (Though to follow that with the coarse “Waiting for the Green Light” is a major mistake). The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne adds a bit of psychedelia to the otherwise clear, while Michael Stipe turns in a surprisingly touching rendition of the classic “Greenfields.” Elsewhere, the instrumentals like “Sweet Iris” and “Theme for Half Speed” show the delicacy to sound and mood that Faultline amply demonstrated on CLOSER COLDER. “Clocks” and “Lost Broadcast” go for a more rock-driven sound—perhaps as a crossover attempt?—but it doesn’t feel as well-rendered. Chris Martin once again lends his voice to the reprise of “Your Love Means Everything,” bringing together the two halves of the album. A strong attempt, if not totally successful.