Spare a thought for the Envy Corps. Despite finishing their beautiful and salacious second album Dwell well over a year ago, it ended up being shelved for various industry-related reasons. As if things couldn’t get any worse, the Iowa-based band’s singer Brandon Darner suffered a stroke onstage eight months ago. Thankfully he’s since made a full recovery and is now healthy enough to promote a record that is sure to make the 2008 best-of-lists come Crimbo time. Dwell is an album for lovers and those who like a little romance in their music. It has an anthemic Modest Mouse-like quality, particularly on ‘Syliva (The Beekeeper),’ and we’re glad that we finally get to hear it. Hopefully there’ll be more to come in the future from the unfortunate three-piece.
Edwin McFee
Key Track: ‘Sylvia (The Beekeeper)’