Review Summary: Their pacing needs some work in the softer sections, but for the most part, Under Summer is a passionate return, ten years in the making.
Well, this is it. This is the album that dedicated post rock lovers have been waiting for. For the most part, it doesn’t disappoint because the band's trademark glorious interplay between the strings, guitar and piano still remains intact. This band showed people with
Enjoy Eternal Bliss that the potent combination of these instruments can be one of the most powerful ones.
Under Summer proves no different and the added touch of soothing vocals is a welcome touch. Granted, their pacing needs some work and it does meander in the quieter sections. However, Yndi Halda’s sophomore outing is so heartwarming that it’s quite difficult to hate.
Right off the bat, the band showcases their classical post rock style with “Together Those Leaves.” It introduces the surprising addition of soft vocals and throws us into a fray of classical string arrangements. It certainly takes some sweet time as it continuously ascends in scale, but everything is wondrously pleasant. The middle section also reveals the band’s composition weaknesses in the softer segments too. They haven't ran out of ways to grip us with elegance, but
Enjoy Eternal Bliss had the added luxury of splendid songwriting. It does drag a bit, but once the song revs up it pays off. “Together Those Leaves” is evidence of this in its atmosphere rich in soaring tremolo picking and climatic string crescendos. It’s nothing outside of the box, but they use their Mono/Explosions in the Sky influence exceptionally well and it gets the job done.
“Golden Threads from the Sun” and “Helena” both continue the greatness. “Golden Threads from the Sun” brings to mind Talk Talk with its atmospheric keyboard sound. Once again, its softer interlude part rambles, but the rest is expertly driven by soothing gang vocals, engaging drumming and lush textures. It all collides together in a massive climax, featuring a wall of sound reminiscent of Mono’s style. Meanwhile, “Helena” contrasts the uplifting sound with a darker wall of sound after a slow burning beginning. It’s minimalist section showcases steady drumming and gentle strings, but it’s once again that could have been trimmed down. It continuously adds on layers of distortion and piano melodies, but for some reason slows down only to lead nowhere. It’s a bit of a tense that signifies a powerful climax, but only manages to reveal the bands over reliance of strings. It’s not a bad song by any means, but it’s strong evidence that their pieces of music need to be patched up.
“This Very Flight” ends the album on a somber note, with the layers of strings making for a gripping atmosphere. The band utilizes pleasing vocals again here which is a nice change of pace. The string textures swell and the exception guitar work ascends as the pace quickens. It’s a beautiful note to end this welcome, but flawed return to form. Yndi Halda quickly solidified themselves as titans of post rock with
Enjoy Eternal Bliss and they still are with
Under Summer. They have a certain classical beauty about them that reveals hard to hate for genre fans. Aside from uneven songwriting and over reliance on strings,
Under Summer exists as an appreciated addition to a colossal year for music. Any fanatics of post rock should not pass this up.
