3/5 stars
Three years after Nootropics, Lower Dens have opted for a much more accessible sound on Escape From Evil – one that sounds good while it’s on but is soon forgotten when it ends.
Beach House are still the obvious contemporary comparison, amother female-fronted mid-tempo band mining the dream-pop revival. What makes Lower Dens different is that they use dream-pop to disguise their standard, hooky pop. They also trade in a darker tone for their genre, indebted to the likes of Joy Division and Siouxsie Sioux. Bandleader Jana Hunter, much like Siouxsie before her, gives each song depth thanks to her emotional vocal delivery. But while the material obviously means a lot to her, it’s doubtful the audience will feel the same. Much like 50 per cent of all current indie albums, the main tools used on the album are synths and reverb, and only a few songs differentiate themselves enough to make an impression. ‘Ondine’ has a solid groove base and a memorable chorus. ‘To Die In L.A.’ and ‘Company’ are the only instances of changed tempo, recalling the krautrock triumphs of past albums. Finally, ‘I Am The Earth’ gives Hunter enough space to let her melody breath.
The rest are songs indicative of modern indie: pleasant, well made, but forgettable.
