I am an avid listener of NPR's "All Songs Considered." On one of the more recent episodes, the two hosts went over their new musical discoveries from the Sasquatch Music Festival (which I was super bummed I couldn't attend).
I've loved two of their finds so far, and here's the first one.
Other Lives is a group that combines the wispy-ness of psychadelic/folk music with the darkness of Pink Floyd. I'd say the best comparison you could make about this band is that it's a cross between Radiohead and Pink Floyd.
That being said, there's a lot of interesting stuff going on in this album that can't be pigeonholed as a copy of another band's style. There are the acoustic guitars and airy vocals, yes. However, what sets this album and the group itself apart from others is how they can flirt with the darker side of music.
The best example of this occasionally foreboding sound can be found in "As I Lay My Head Down." Using strings, tambourine, and what I believe is a bassoon, Other Lives creates a brilliantly paced song which is at the same time beautiful and very unsettling.
Indeed, Other Lives makes great use of instruments, from those of "As I Lay My Head Down" to the wonderful piano work in "Tamer Animals." Overall, this record is a fresh look at alternative music, and is definitely one that you shouldn't be surprised if this album shows up later this year on a "Best Album" post.
Here's a link to the band's Myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/otherlives/music
Check them out and, until next time, enjoy the music!
Andrew
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