Those seeking music to lose themselves into won’t have to look much further than the third full-length by Californian atmospheric indie-rockers From Indian Lakes. With Joey Vannucchi – an intriguing individual born and raised in the Yosemite National Park Area – clearly at the creative helm, the expansive soundscapes act as a soundtrack to a potentially spiritual journey through his early surroundings.
Opening with a drawn out droning that subtly evolves into the breathy ‘Come In This Lift’, the majority of ‘Absent Sounds’ remains deliberately subdued in tempo. There are very few moments where From Indian Lakes hint at urgency, instead focussing on delivering soft and mesmerising compositions. The result remains largely difficult to describe – sitting somewhere between Circa Survive and Death Cab For Cutie; the type of track that might score a particularly emotive moment on a US TV-show, yet feel entirely out of place.
Vannucchi’s vocals are the ultimate focal point of the record, swirling in time with the drifting instrumentals. His distinct pitch and unusual tone perfectly suit the music’s mood, and add the necessary haunting depth to push the music forward.
‘Breathe, Desperately’ features the most euphoric crescendo on the record, acting as one of the carefully selected moments to surprise the listener. Similarly on ‘Ghost’, Vannucchi delivers a sense of emotional pain in his restrained outbursts, proclaiming that he is now the ghost of what he once was. Each of the more commanding moments are juxtaposed against beautifully dysphoric ones.
Although the record maintains a steady pace, it’s the delicate sophistication that creates the spellbinding atmosphere. Perhaps self-revelatory, ‘Absent Sounds’ is made up as much by what it chooses to avoid as by what it contains. From Indian Lakes have created a record with a ghostly air, floating over substantial depth. It’s not about to punch anyone in the face, but listeners will be too entranced to notice even if it did.
BEN TIPPLE