Following up from their 2012 effort, A Church That Fits Our Needs, Chapel Hill’s captivating and innovative alternative band Lost In The Trees bring to the table their latest release, Past Life. Incorporating diverse indie rock and pop influences into this album, Past Life also blends together relaxing electronica-based pop elements that accompany the group’s present-day folk sound.
The simplest way to describe Past Life to listeners who may not be familiar with Lost In The Trees, I would tell them to imagine if Arcade Fire and Radiohead switched musical places for a week and were both forced to write new material on the spot. For instance, songs like “Excos” and “Daunting Friend” early on provide fascinating instrumental characteristics that take similar queues in vein of Arcade Fire’s full-length, The Suburbs.
Along with “Lady In White” and the standalone title-track “Past Life,” the first half of this release also introduces listeners to LITT’s inventive electro-pop charisma that also draws enchanting qualities from soothing artists like The Postal Service.
While the remaining section of Past Life moves forward with Suburbs-like charms, Lost In The Trees gracefully transition back and forth from their standard sound to a unique and transcending orchestral dynamic that sets a blissful tone for the rest of the album. As Ari Picker leads the group with soft and comforting vocals to complement the quintet’s folk and electronic musicianship, the percussion of Past Life can be truly defined in “Rites,” “Wake” and “Glass Harp,” while “Sun” and “Night Walking” delightfully close out this record on a breathtaking note.
Past Life is a beautifully composed full-length that peacefully draws you in with its groundbreaking conduction and its magnificent instrumental variety. It is guaranteed to easily become one of your new favorite albums to unwind to, especially for rainy mornings, contemplative car rides alone, or even strenuous hours studying for exams.
In A Word: Astonishing
