Exitmusic
's name hinted that they would truly come into their own at the end of their story, and
The Recognitions
proves it. As captured on their third album, the death of
Aleksa Palladino
and
Devon Church
's love gives their music new life. The couple -- who separated a while after the release of 2012's
Passage
and ultimately divorced -- took their time making and finishing these songs, not least because of the intense emotions of their situation. While it's easy to make a compelling story line out of the end of their relationship,
holds up on its own terms: this is easily the duo's most accomplished and affecting music.
have never sounded so emotionally present or complex, and they earn every ounce of drama they pour into the album. "Crawl" begins things with slow-dawning horror and anguish, with
Palladino
's voice surfacing from cavernous depths before the track explodes into searing vocals and guitars -- it's a mix of grief and anger that feels like visiting the abandoned remains of their relationship and being terrified by a ghost. This kind of honesty radiates throughout
, as do small but real glimmers of hope. As heartbreaking as it is when
realizes her love has disappeared on "Iowa," its sunbeam-like synths and chugging beat suggest the only way out of her pain is through it.
balances mournful moments and danceable ones gracefully; "To the Depths" is as catchy as it aching, and while "Criminal"'s shivery synth pop could seem out of place in less capable hands, it adds more dimension to the album's different shades of heartache. And, of course, the more expected ballads pack an emotional wallop. "I'll Never Know" turns
's wail into a hook and transforms the disbelief of a breakup into a dream pop epic. "Closer" finds her wishing for the end instead of longing for the past over a frozen soundscape. "The Distance," which
Church
wrote for her early in their relationship, brings the album full circle, offering closure and rebirth.
is all the more poignant because its power reveals there was still some spark (of creativity, at least) between
when they made it. That power makes the album more than just a beautiful swan song -- it's a remarkable document from a couple who recognized the best in each other, and when it was time to let go. ~ Heather Phares