The Antlers - Familiars
'Familiars'
The Antlers
Tiger Rating: 7.5 /10
Indie / Mellow / Soulful
With melodies subtler and more restrained than ever, it's clear that The Antlers aren't in any hurry to ditch the sound that has made them renowned in the indie world as the kings of the sappy but heartbreakningly sweet ballads. The thing with them (and similar bands like The Dodos and Calexico) is that they seldom do anything for the sake of doing it. And there's a kind of sweet justice in that. They're not about a fad or a thing - a new thing that takes over a nation with cheesy YouTube videos and gimmicky selling points. They are what they are and they don't make apologies for it. They're not snotty, self indulgent, brattish rock stars high on the spotlight. What they are is something carefully crafted but not contrived. In place of antics they have skill. For image they wear their hearts on their sleeves. It's not always the most catchy or appealing thing frankly, but the spirit they offer their music up in is entirely engaging and irresistible to a point.
If you are unfamiliar with The Antlers, 'Familiars' may not win you over. You may not realize that this is a band at the peak of their game. It takes an enormous amount of skill to be subtle in these 'Miley-Cyrus-naked-on-a-cannonball' days. What this band has achieved with this album is beautiful balance, pristine production and songs with so much space and calm that I literally felt like I was in space upon first listen. A good thing trust me. Especially in such a fast paced world. One needs less.
So there is space to breathe here. They don't crowd out the sound with unnecessary lyrics or instrumentation. Trumpets are gentle and subdued and weave their way through most of the tracks, like silent witnesses of some sweet heartbreak. Silberman's iconic wail sounds stronger and more certain now and he shows off what else he can do with his vocals. That hint of Motown soul, evident in the high hats and the Silberman's soulful delivery, is not lost here, but rather matured to perfection. It's the one true thing that sets them apart.
If you're a touchy-feely type, chances are the depro mood on this record will get you. What starts as mellow dips down to Post Party Depression (PPD) blues, especially by Track 5 ('Director'). It's as soulful and simple as all the others, but casts a new calm over the already near comatose album. The following track 'Revisited' sits at 7mins 42 seconds playtime. It's blissful, but can't really be enjoyed out of context of the album, I found. None of them can.
So 'Familiars'. A truly beautiful album. It' staggering in it's simplicity and is definitely the most mature and assured album the band has produced. But just like too much honey makes you sick, this is one album that is guaranteed to depress the crap out of you if consume it whole. The problem is because it's so well pieced together in terms of feel and atmosphere, that you can't really dismantle it and enjoy it as a collection of singles.
So try it if you're a serious music consumer. Avoid like the effing plague if you're prone to fits of indie-induced melancholy. This might be album you die to.
WVS
If you are unfamiliar with The Antlers, 'Familiars' may not win you over. You may not realize that this is a band at the peak of their game. It takes an enormous amount of skill to be subtle in these 'Miley-Cyrus-naked-on-a-cannonball' days. What this band has achieved with this album is beautiful balance, pristine production and songs with so much space and calm that I literally felt like I was in space upon first listen. A good thing trust me. Especially in such a fast paced world. One needs less.
So there is space to breathe here. They don't crowd out the sound with unnecessary lyrics or instrumentation. Trumpets are gentle and subdued and weave their way through most of the tracks, like silent witnesses of some sweet heartbreak. Silberman's iconic wail sounds stronger and more certain now and he shows off what else he can do with his vocals. That hint of Motown soul, evident in the high hats and the Silberman's soulful delivery, is not lost here, but rather matured to perfection. It's the one true thing that sets them apart.
If you're a touchy-feely type, chances are the depro mood on this record will get you. What starts as mellow dips down to Post Party Depression (PPD) blues, especially by Track 5 ('Director'). It's as soulful and simple as all the others, but casts a new calm over the already near comatose album. The following track 'Revisited' sits at 7mins 42 seconds playtime. It's blissful, but can't really be enjoyed out of context of the album, I found. None of them can.
So 'Familiars'. A truly beautiful album. It' staggering in it's simplicity and is definitely the most mature and assured album the band has produced. But just like too much honey makes you sick, this is one album that is guaranteed to depress the crap out of you if consume it whole. The problem is because it's so well pieced together in terms of feel and atmosphere, that you can't really dismantle it and enjoy it as a collection of singles.
So try it if you're a serious music consumer. Avoid like the effing plague if you're prone to fits of indie-induced melancholy. This might be album you die to.
WVS
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