The image of a slow-building, yet powerful wave hitting the shore could not have been more vivid than during the first listen of “You As You Were.” Although the eponymous species of seabird is most likely the source of inspiration for the band’s name of Shearwater, its sound perhaps aided in conjuring the mighty mental wave. Word association or not, the third single released off the Animal Joy LP due out Valentine’s Day contains a crescendo that will steadily rise up until it consumes you and sweeps you under.
Beginning with a repetitive and gorgeous piano progression, the song consistently adds instruments until the track can contain no more. The early arrival of bass may have been what grabbed me from the first listen. Its pulse-like beat keeps me waiting for each subsequent introduction of sound, only to find each layer fits seamlessly on top of the others.
Known to most as a side project of the band Okkervil River, Shearwater has generally remained more subdued than their more mainstream counterpart. In the past, Jonathan Meiburg, the only remaining crossover and no longer a part of Okkervil River, seemed to use Shearwater as an outlet for material not suitable for the livelier Okkervil sound. It seems as if “You As You Were” breaks the mold with its strong, upbeat feel. Meiburg, the de facto front man, exerts vocals that root you in your place with their beauty and flow, leaving the listener no choice but to stand and wait for the wave to crash over them. When he belts out “I am leaving the life” for the first time, the song’s abrupt close is very near. How hard this most recent wave from the Austin, TX band hits is entirely up to you.