Lavendine aren’t driven by commercial interests in their music, and if you need evidence proving as much, you needn’t give their single “Rapture” more than a casual listen this season. In “Rapture,” Lavendine endear themselves to the contemporary Christian music model while also looking at elements of progressive pop from a standpoint few would expect out of a pair of twin sister songwriters from the dust bowl in Oklahoma. These are two sooners who have a keen handle on the in’s and out’s or pop composing, and here, they give us everything they’ve got with an added dose of panache.
URL: https://lavendineband.com/
“Rapture” sports some of the best textural contrast I’ve heard in a non-noise rock single this summer, and I say that primarily considering the effect of the crunch in the guitars mixed with the thrust of the percussion. These two elements almost exclusively emphasize the urgency of the lyrics, even when our singers aren’t crooning, and although it’s a little grandiose compared to what some of their peers might have done, that’s exactly what attracted me to their sound in the first place. They’re not following trends, and thus can’t be accused or repurposing someone else’s style for their own needs here.
The beat in this track definitely works to push some of the catharsis beneath the rhythm forward in the chorus, and without its appearance, I will say that “Rapture” would probably feel more like a dirge than anything else. The balladic elements here aren’t enough to salvage the melody from melancholy, and frankly, neither is the singing. It’s the percussive component that buoys the mood and draws together the hook’s intense emotional bend and the swarthy melody sway of the vocals, ultimately making it possible for the narrative to feel more forward-thinking than depressing or ominous.
Because of the strength that these two singers possess, and furthermore, how well they play off of each other’s cues, I absolutely think “Rapture” would work really well as a straight vocal number as well. The harmonies are the bread and butter of the good vibes here, and despite the ebbing of the dissonance in the guitar parts, the serenade is what keeps the light at the end of the tunnel ablaze for every second the song plays out. I don’t know where these two have been hiding, but their pipes are some of the sweetest I’ve heard in a long time.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Rapture/dp/B00FB442RC
You don’t have to be a big gospel fan to appreciate the work that Lavendine are doing in their single “Rapture,” but for those who can get into CCM’s poppier acts, this is unquestionably a duo that needs to have your full attention in 2020. Emotionally-charged and likely the groundwork for what will be an amazing live performance once they’re able to return to the stage again, this song declares war on the status quo with melodic incendiaries that aren’t the sort of stock content you find all the time in pop music anymore. It’s a treasure, as are the two wildly skillful women who’ve brought it into the spotlight.
Troy Johnston