Undersea, though, is pretty magical. Downsizing to a four song EP, The Antlers
have consolidated their vision while avoiding any tendency to meander. From Peter
Silberman’s vocals to Darby Cicci’s aural textures, the band boasts a polished
confidence that seems to indicate both growth and focus. In many ways, this release is an incredibly
successful compromise between Hospice’s conceptual angst and the dark velvety
aesthetic of Burst Apart. The Antlers
have never been known for their sonic tidiness (more often than not, their
previous catalogue bleeds at the seams rendering them a downright frustrating
band to listen to on shuffle), but Undersea replaces that signature grandiosity
with a newfound elegance. As for the
songs themselves- out of the four tracks, “Crest” is the obvious standout
buffered by the wonderfully sprawling “Endless Ladder” and the elegaic “Zelda”
with album opener “Drift Dive” slowly ushering the listener onto this rich,
auditory experience. And while The
Antlers’ style doesn’t seem to lend itself to the EP treatment- clocking in at 22 minutes, Undersea is both complete and free, not to mention a
flawless table-setter for whatever the band does next.
- Fr. Jones
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