Review Summary: An always solid, sometimes wonderful, solo debut from The War On Drugs' drummer
Most noted for his role as drummer for indie darlings The War On Drugs, Charlie Hall has stepped into the limelight (kinda, sorta) with solo debut
Invisible Ink. Composed of nine more-or-less instrumental songs totaling an hour in duration, it’s a hard beast to pin down - ranging from glistening psychedelia to warm Americana to straight-up ambient with shapeshifting ease. The various place names which litter the track titles hint at a kind of sonic travelog, and this is the type of album which strives to create its own world, summoning a gravity which pulls the listener into a particular atmosphere and won’t let go. Its finest hours are utterly immersive - there’s nothing to do but float away when “Midas Bus To Tromso” is playing, “Mystic, CT” is a dreamy masterwork with its mix of upfront percussion and “cosmic country” stylings, and closer “Tamarama” is absolutely heavenly in its nocturnal lounge vibe. Unfortunately, at other points, the record suffices merely as (undeniably solid) background music. It must be said, though, that while this effort as a whole is a little overlong and inconsistent, there’s still something very endearing throughout about
Invisible Ink. Maybe it’s just the overarching “chillness” of the thing - even as listeners can debate whether this music is more Mac DeMarco-esque slacker indie or American primitivism or New Age-y ambient, it
definitely is relaxing, if occasionally leaning into a certain strain of sadness.
Invisible Ink hits the spot as a mood piece for the late evening hours.
