Review Summary: A slow start...
The Dear Hunter have spent their time lately developing a brand new saga that officially began this month with
The Indigo Child. Much to the disappointment of fans,
Act VI has been postponed indefinitely or until front man Casey Crescenzo is pleased with the resulting material. So, this prologue sees the group taking their sound into a futuristic direction, but with familiar undertones. While very little information was divulged so far regarding the background of this new story or future releases, this bite-sized adventure out now features mostly instrumental, cinematic ditties. As expected, the title track is the focal point, sharing this swinging, prog pop groove, complete with warm croons and various twists. The guys bring together elegant guitar leads, playful synths and percussion to create this exotic vibe. The sudden break into the blissful coda is perhaps the best minute this EP offers. It’s like a cozy walk into the sunset. The reprise displays a more introspective spin on the main theme, including more prevalent orchestral elements. Again, during the last minute, things switch drastically, kicking into a lovely segment with a smooth bass melody and catchy vocals. Given this strong start, it’s disappointing to find out that this is the only well-rounded composition here.
The remaining numbers are mostly ambient experiments that work best as the soundtrack to the Star Wars-meets-Dune short film Casey Crescenzo & Team presented as a companion to this release. ‘Prayer | Uncle Boot | Breach’ contains thrilling sound scapes, as well as soothing keyboards. Same goes for ‘To Your Cycle’ & ‘Your Reward Is Not Tax Exempt’. The retro futuristic synths build up nicely, however, everything is abruptly cut before it can take off. They would have made for intriguing starts to more complex tracks. Nevertheless, The Dear Hunter are ready for a new chapter in their discography and I hope they prepared us a story just as ample and labyrinthine as the
Acts. It might be a slower start, but the band have repeatedly demonstrated their strengths. I am sure things are only getting better from here.
