Gary Arce from Yawning Man started this band a couple of years ago, while he uses similar tones as he does in Yawning Man here, there is a more melodic shoegaze vibe, which is more song-focused. Thanks to the vocals of bassist Pia Isaksen, there is a fragile atmospheric drift that weaves sleepy melodies in the spaces left by the floating guitar parts. The second song works off a similar formula, as they continue to capture a very languid dream-soaked mood that finds the vocals cooing their way into a lonely sunset.
While it is clear they have captured a very cool sound that expands the sonic palette even wider than what Yawning Man does, thanks to the vocals giving it a more human touch to connect with, dynamically, once we are three songs in, I begin to want a little more dynamic. There is a very subtle shift, a twitch of tension lurking deep within the womblike melodies. It shows the collision of shoegaze and post-punk, where it can be heard. The overdriven bass creates a doomier undercurrent as the pace slows for "Sleep the Day Away." The vocals sit differently in the mix to bring out a different shade in their tone. Did not need a great deal of dynamic shift from them, but this is haunting enough to work for me.
For "Abandoned Lands" when things are less draped in effects, there is more of a haunted folk feel mixed with pastoral western vibes created. They continue further down this path, but with more of a twilight atmosphere on the last song, I like the melancholic lethargy that hangs over the vocal cadance to cast an emotional shadow over things. I will give this album a 9, as I like the mood it creates. Not the most dynamic album of the year but it works well with what they are doingComing out on Heavy Psych Records. nbsp;
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