Let’s be honest: The Antlers’ last release, (together), was a bit of a disappointment, featuring only lifeless remixes of previously released tracks and bad covers. It’s good to see the band is back to crafting original dream-pop songs once again on its most recent EP, Undersea.
For six years, The Antlers has been one of the more prolific bands on the indie circuit. The band’s latest marks its eighth studio release since 2006 and a new direction in its sound.
It’s a beautiful gem of an album, a sonic daydream of sorts. At times it could be confused for Sigur Rós, but lead singer Peter Silberman’s soulful vocals (and the fact that he doesn’t sing in Icelandic), put an end to further comparisons.
On opening track “Drift Drive,” Silberman’s breathy voice soars along with the horn section, which shouldn’t gel with the rest of the track, but somehow never interferes with the sound in any way.
In fact, the horns become one of the album’s strong points. The final song, “Zelda,” proves just that. Opening with hazy trumpets and an upright bass, it’s one of the more unique songs on the EP.
Listening to “Zelda” is like experiencing a hazy recording from the 1940s mixed with modern synthesizers. It works so well that the nostalgia effect never overpowers your ability to sit back and drift along with the music.
While Undersea doesn’t follow the pop structure of The Antlers’ previous releases, this shouldn’t deter longtime fans from exploring it. This time around, the band’s brand of dream-pop is a bit more ambient, but it’s also a logical direction for the band to take its music.
Loyal fans should embrace the new sound. Those who enjoyed its previous releases, such as Burst Apart and the stellar tracks “Rolled Together” and “Tiptoe,” should welcome the experimentation.
diversions@umdbk.com
