Infinite Error crafts a riveting yet chilling listening experience within Plagued By Meaning, an album whose atmosphere quickly latches on and never lets go. From the brooding orchestral swells of the title track to the ghostly, industrial undercurrents of “In Lust,” Plagued By Meaning thrives on tension and contrast — in what also resembles the setting of a haunted house at nighttime. Sweeping strings, moody guitars, and buzzing rhythmic elements weave through dynamic compositions, shifting between eerie unease and cinematic grandeur.
“Plagued By Meaning” opens the album with a cinematic brooding. Creeping strings unveil with a bellowing ominousness, showing shades of the There Will Be Blood score. The ensuing strings soar with greater emotion thereafter, balancing the previous unease with hints of triumph, however diabolical they may be. “In Lust” ensues, featuring an intriguing percussive pit-pattering as industrial textures emanate underneath. Vocals emerge with ghostly momentum, beckoning “won’t you come and see?” as beautifully dark string arrangements enter. The momentum is palpable throughout, carried by both rhythmic invigoration and sweeping orchestral grandeur. The four-minute turn is especially moving, as jangling guitars, swipes of strings, and understated vocals assemble with artful captivation.
Plagued By Meaning consistently impresses with a range of inventive soundscapes, both beautiful and foreboding. “King Eater” is a particularly memorable display of the project’s knack for dynamic tonal swells. Trickling guitars hypnotize throughout the first half, remaining an element throughout — though largely giving way to buzzing synth-bass and icy strings as lyrical references to “Shangri-La,” furthers the sense of a different, unexplored terrain. The lush piano and guitar cohesion on “Birds Calling It Quits” feels like a tonal calm within the storm, comparatively, and shows shades of more recent-era Radiohead in its span from dreamy folk to orchestral cinematics.
The album’s second half shows no shortage in inventive soundscapes and quality songwriting. “Puerile” embraces a harrowing precision amidst industrial-forward rhythms and sporadic pulses of strings, as lyrics caution “it’s from the grave,” and a sense of unknown dread — “or where it’s coming from.” One can’t help but envision a monster arising from the depths of a swamp, basement, or another ideal habitat for darkness. Distorted-sounding piano clangs with spine-tingling effect as the conclusion approaches, then shifting into the warmer steadiness of “Derealizing.” Bouncy bass and quaint guitars complement gentle vocals, ascending into a delectably unsettling burst of strings — evoking later-era Scott Walker in all its creepy gorgeousness. Plagued By Meaning is a thorough achievement in nocturnal soundscapes and creative structural momentum from Infinite Error.
