Find the Others – Empire of Time
3.5/5
Vancouver’s Find the Others have been sitting in the shadows of the Canadian indie scene for quite some time, with their underrated experimental acoustic style being featured in Shit Girls Say, Tony Hawk channel videos and a few feature films. Their latest album Empire of Time was recorded in Canada and Iceland; the expansive landscape of the latter is an obvious influence on the 9-track collection. Trinkets of electronic loops, combined with acoustic layering and the subdued vocals of frontman Andy Sheppard make for an elegant and sophisticated experience.
Textures upon textures are the building blocks for Empire of Time, with layers of guitars, percussion and vocals expanding the realms of chamber pop and indie rock.
Opening track “We Stared at the World” is not only the best song from the album, but also the best example of the band’s textural creativity. Sonic pings dance across the background of the song, while Sheppard’s vocals are matched with female counterparts. Gradually increasing intensity, synthesizers and dry percussion tones heighten as the vocals slowly diminish out; from start to finish, “We Stared at the World” is beautiful – you can almost picture the immense dramatics of seeing the Earth from space.
Similarly, “The Things You Want” finds time to breakdown the instruments, this time incorporating a flurry of saxophones into the mix, but not without leaving out a post-rock, Sigor Ros style climax.
A progressive twist on acoustic, singer-songwriter style adds an interesting dimension for Empire of Time, with tracks such as “Light in a Bottle”, and the quietly passionate title track “Empire of Time”. Matching in passive intensity, “A Fine Line” reaches far with the minimalistic notes of the guitar filling the space Sheppard’s voice chooses to leave void.
Without abusing the power of experimental, Find the Others reach far across the landscapes of the Icelandic tundra with their latest album, making Empire of Time a sonic experience for the mind, body and soul. Head over to their Bandcamp page to hear the lead single and buy the record!
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