There’s been a noticeable refinement to the sound of Brooklyn’s The Antlers in the last few years. What was once a solo vehicle for Peter Siberman developed as the band became a three-piece with the addition of Michael Lerner and Darby Cicci. A few demons have been exorcised after the lurching dynamics of 2009’s Hospice and the harrowing sadness of 2011’s Burst Apart, making way for a calmer, subtler fifth record.
The emotions are still heightened and Siberman’s Buckley-like, angst-ridden vocals are still prominent, yet these elements are contained and controlled within their environment. This shift in style is reflected in the lyrics, which often deal with being restricted in a protective shell (Hotel, Intruders) or about determining some sort of control over chaos (like the orchestrating protagonist of Director).
The music of The Antlers is essentially post-rock, though it is transformed into something else altogether by the added layer of Peter Siberman’s dramatic vocals. This paring back doesn’t diminish the power of the songs; rather, it makes them all the more effective. The songs on Familiars range between five and eight minutes each, but never command you to a climax or shout at you about what you should be feeling. Instead, there’s a subtle build within the jazz-inflected ghostly quarters the band have housed their compositions in.
The Antlers have reigned it in without losing what makes them such a distinctive band. Who knew being boxed-in would suit them so well?
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
Best Track: Hotel
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: The Year Of Hibernation YOUTH LAGOON, Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space SPIRITUALISED
In A Word: Atmospheric
