“For the Tired and Ill at Ease” is a beautiful, melancholy album. Effortlessly it brings together haunted remnants of classical and transforms into something new. Of course this style has a name: hauntology. Usually hauntology sounds further away. For whatever reason, Scissors and Sellotape decided for his project he wanted to bring every microscopic detail to the forefront. Pianos are crystal clear; violins are crystal clear, it is right there with you. The lush sound simply sweeps around you.
At the beginning you’re introduced to the mood. It is a bit dark, not overwhelmingly so, just enough. The restraint is admirable. Like Leyland Kirby’s project, Scissors and Sellotape too has a respect for these old found sounds. Sonic manipulations are kept discrete. Perhaps the most obvious thing about this album is the song titles, which may seem a bit overwrought at first, but after a couple of listens you’ll have to agree there was nothing else that could fit.
I found after a few listens how the songs appear to intertwine with one another. Most don’t involve a direct beat, excluding the light one for “I say ‘get used to it’” or the intense “Personal Trainer” which nearly bursts at the seams. Generally you’re treated to well-arranged songs. By far though my favorite is “A simple 'i know how you feel'”. On that track everything comes together perfectly. I’m reminded of my time as a child listening to endless streams of classical music. The piano on here has the right amount of presence and the violins are emotive. Even the slight glitch effects only add to the drama, something which I would like more glitch to do.
This album simply discovered me. All of its little quirks (the glitching on here is tastefully done) simply work towards making an emotional, dramatic statement. “For the Tired and Ill at Ease” is an instantly enjoyable, emotional, and oftentimes physical album.
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