Dimly Lit - From Indian Lakes

In my years of listening to From Indian Lakes (nearly as long as this blog has been around), I've learned that their records are not easy to gage. For example, take their last record, Everything Feels Better Now. When I reviewed it on my previous blog, I wasn't as keen on the change in direction and sound. Don't get me wrong, I still liked it, but it just didn't resonate with me as deeply as the album before that, Absent Sounds. Fast-forward to now, and Everything Feels Better Now is one of my favorite albums in recent years. Right before I switched from Apple Music to Spotify, I (very nerdily) recorded some data from my music before it all disappeared. From its release in October of 2016 until September of 2019, I listened to the album (on average) nearly 70 times - a combined track play count for the entire album of over 800 plays. It still is one of my go to albums to put on, to lose myself in and let it flow over me. It ended up coming to me in a very pivotal and transitional time in my life, and often helped verbalize/represent moods and feelings I was experiencing during that time. I still ended up rating the album appropriately - four out of five - but I vastly underestimated the impact and meaning the album would have for me in the coming months and years.

So, with all that said, I have been listening to the latest album, Dimly Lit, for the past month (+) since its release with this notion in mind. Knowing that singer/songwriter Joey Vannucchi likes to explore and experiment, and especially noting that this is his first album after being on a label for the last few, was helpful to prepare for the new tracks. Also helpful was the amount of singles/songs from the album that were released ahead of time - five in total. Some of them felt more familiar - "No One Else" and "It Pulls You Up" both felt as though they could have been on EFBN. Others strayed into new territory, like "ULS" and "Dissonance". "ULS" is a dark, moody track with lots of sounds in the treble tone (as opposed to being very bass heavy, which might be expected for a song like this). It's an interesting mix of sounds - synths and drum tracks are a common thread throughout the album, but a guitar solo/chord progression "Dissonance is actually much closer to the Absent Sounds era - less synth driven and more rooted in drums and guitar - but it feels fresh and anxious, like it's in a rush and almost out of breath that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

By far, this is From Indian Lakes pop-iest album. I say that with no negative connotation; it's a note on the sounds used and vibe of the record as opposed to any idea of selling out or anything like that. If you compare their first two records with this one, it's a drastically different sound - more synths and a more polished sound as opposed to the visceral, guitar led alternative rock. "Your Heartbeat Against Mine" is a great example of the pop tendencies. It's much brighter and lighter than songs like "I Have No Answers" or "Anything" (from their first and second albums respectively). The snap/clap effect that comes in right at the beginning drives the cheerful synth melody into what is one of the strongest tracks of the album; one that keeps you coming back for more and more. It's also just one of the few songs that this band has put out that you could call...cheerful. It sounds bad saying that, but it feels true - most of the band's music is moody or darker or just more intense. So this is a nice change of pace.

The other very different aspect to this record was the number of guest artists/co-writers. More than half the songs are credited to other artists on Spotify, with some helping write and others providing vocals. Obviously, this creates brand new sounds for the band that weren't possible before. The one that stood out to me the most was the inclusion of Lynn Gunn on "Did We Change" - Gunn is the lead singer of the band Pvris, which has come up on this blog a few times (and a review on their latest EP is still forthcoming). It's a combination that I didn't anticipate, but one that I really enjoy. The other notable features include Soren Bryce on "Almost There", Meagan Grandall on "I Feel The Same", and Miriam Devora on "Garden Bed" and "Faces". "Almost There" is one of the more unusual songs from the album, being both fairly short and without the regular structure most songs follow. "I Feel The Same" is a mesmerising mix of electronic and acoustic elements - the first three minutes of the song are primarily carried by electonic synths, bass, and drums, while the last minute or switches to a stripped sound of just vocals and a fingerstyle guitar part. "Garden Bed" and "Faces" are both excellent songs, each trading moments of lighter, prettier sounds with some cool minor/dissonant sounds that offer (my favorite thing) contrast. All three of these songs are even more unique from the additions of the female vocals. Bryce has a deep, lower voice that works really well with the darker vibe of "Almost There", giving her repetition of the song title an almost chant-like quality. Devora has a similar but slightly lighter voice that helps give the introduction of "Garden Bed" a bit more mystery and urgency, and a sense of vulnerability to the verse that she leads vocals on. Grandall mostly provides harmony vocals on "I Feel The Same", but has a really brief yet haunting vocal line in the beginning of the song that pops (and is also repeated in the chorus). Even at the points when the guest artists are just providing harmony vocals, it still adds a new layer and sense of depth that makes the songs stand out.

Even with the introduction I wrote in mind, it's difficult to try gauging this album. Again, it's the first full release from the band not on their label; therefore, it's perhaps a more accurate taste of the kind of music the band wants to be releasing. I'm still going to be giving it time before I make any sort of "final" judgement (which I've realized is a foolish thing anyways; we're always changing, and in turn our opinions and views of things change as well), but for now I am pleased with the release. I was awaiting it with great anticipation, and there is a lot of material and diversity in sounds to continue to consume and process. I don't know if I'll end up seeing the band on this tour, but I'll continue supporting this group and recommending their work - one of the more talented bands I've found in my years of listening and reviewing.

Recommended: "Your Heartbeat Against Mine", "ULS", "Garden Bed", "I Feel The Same"