Review Summary: There’s nothing to do but fall through space
Failure has been on a vindicating trajectory since their 2013 comeback and it’s only intensified in the five years since 2021’s Wild Type Droid. The group has gotten some higher profile tours and festival spots (just caught them at last year’s Louder Than Life myself) and even a documentary about them released on Hulu last year. Hearing Paramore’s Hayley Williams guest on “The Rising Skyline” feels like the most blatant acknowledgement of how broadly the band has come to influence contemporary alt-rock.
While Location Lost doesn’t deviate too drastically from the band’s core style, the music is downright uplifting by their usual standards. The spacey side of their sound is explored and combined with a noticeably mellow mood. Even the songs that toy with the dynamics still keep these sensibilities in mind as the opening “Crash Test Delayed” features upbeat drums and ethereal electronics while the heavier cascades on “The Air’s On Fire” and “A Way Down” have fairly laid back undercurrents.
Going along with that, the songwriting also seems to crank up the pop appeal. “Solid State” plays like a blatant throwback to the Fantastic Planet days with a bright melody reminiscent of “Stuck On You” but features a tight verse/chorus set in its own right. “Halo And Grain,” “Someday Soon,” and the title track are all dreamlike numbers that perfectly balance wistful vocal melodies, trippy guitar effects, busy bass lines and drumbeats that are intricate enough for prog yet pleasantly unobtrusive.
For how consistent Failure’s track record has been, Location Lost is an especially impressive offering that may be their best since Fantastic Planet. Their brand of mopey space pop is appealing on multiple fronts, immediately gripping the listener with tight hooks while the various soundscapes encourage multiple listens on headphones. Either way, it’s a breezy listen tailor-made for drifting off and heavy comfort. It’s cohesive enough to satisfy established fans and welcoming for anybody who still needs to pick up on what they’re throwing down.
