Review Summary: Don't forget about me now...
You may have heard of Author a couple of years ago when they received some modest press for producing an EP with Aaron Marsh, lead singer of Copeland. Then, they slipped from people's minds for a couple of years. Well, Author is back with a debut album, and it is quite the impressive step forward. Of Brighter Days draws influence from numerous sources around the indie rock scene, but the connections to Copeland are clear, especially going back to In Motion-era. The band is more guitar and rhythm driven, but the vocals sounds eerily similar to Marsh's shimmering voice.
But, enough with the semantics. This is a pretty damn good album. The LP opens innocently with some delicate piano notes, but it quickly gives way to driving finger-picked guitar, rolling synth, and tight percussion. "Fiction" does an excellent job of setting the tone for the rest of the album, a gently atmospheric undertone with excellent musical arrangements. Although the vocals are the most distinctive aspect of Author, perhaps the most impressive aspect is the drumming. Although not necessarily advanced, it perfectly compliments songs like "Forget" and even keeps the album driving when it begins to lag towards the back half. The bass lines are also impressive, setting catchy grooves and giving the music more life and energy. The end result is a product that is undoubtedly more than the sum of its parts.
It's surprising how polished and cohesive Of Brighter Days is, especially for an initial release. Although they clearly take some cues from their contemporaries such as Copeland, Mew, and Mutemath, Author still forges their own sound. Their nose for lovely melodies is clear, but it's the songs that they've built around those subtle tunes is the far more impressive aspect. Take "Extraordinary", for example, featuring gorgeous female guest vocals and complex arrangements all oriented around a simple synth pulse. Or one of the highlights of the album, "Shadows", whose simple initial guitar melody develops beautifully into a atmospheric masterpiece. "Wander", however, is the clearest indicator on the album that Author is forging their own path. The harmonies do an incredible job of accenting the initial haunting melody, and the simple reverberating hand claps keep the song moving in the perfect way.
This melodic side of indie rock is generally aided by emotional, intimate lyrics, and Author is no exception. The closer "Find the Words" is especially poignant: "I'm sorry but I am not well / You said it would be so different to me / I'm sorry that I can not tell you what's rotting in me, it's hollowing me." What more is there to say?
Author doesn't do anything that hasn't been done before, but they certainly do it well. Although Of Brighter Days is held back a little by its lack of experimentation and unique instrumentation, they show the potential to amount to something much greater. It generally takes a couple of albums for a band to fully realize their sound, and if the debut is any indication, Author has some fantastic music yet to come.
