{"id":5891,"date":"2016-03-22T16:24:18","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T16:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-obrother-endless-light\/"},"modified":"2023-02-23T21:30:17","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T21:30:17","slug":"review-obrother-endless-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-obrother-endless-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: O\u2019Brother – Endless Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nIn this non-stop world known as \u201cmusic journalism,\u201d occasionally a record arrives in your inbox that unexpectedly leaves you stunned, crumbling to your knees as the sheer musical force coming out of your speakers weighs you down in a mesmerised haze. That is what happened to me with \u2018Endless Light\u2019<\/i>. The third album from Atlanta\u2019s O’Brother<\/b> sees them stepping from behind the shadow of Manchester Orchestra, to create one of the most satisfying and overwhelming records of the year so far.<\/p>\n

The main gratifying asset of ‘Endless Light\u2019<\/i> is its sequencing. Over the course of 50 minutes, O’Brother<\/b> provide a set of truly engaging songs. ‘Your Move\u2019<\/i> is punchy, playing off harmonious \u201cwoo”s, setting the brash tone that appears throughout the majority of the album. ‘Deconstruct\u2019<\/i> is jarring and scarce in its delivery. Likewise ‘Complicated End Times\u2019<\/i> treads on the Tanner Merritt\u2019s lyrical fragility before erupting in the chorus as he sings, “I need time to reignite.\u201d<\/i> Meanwhile, ‘Bloodlines\u2019<\/i> carries itself with a domineering buzz with Merritt\u2019s airy, distorted release leaving you entranced.<\/p>\n

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‘Endless Light\u2019<\/i> carries itself with a stunning and haunting beauty that radiates from start to finish. O’Brother<\/b> subtly create a gripping musical landscape. Songs such as ‘Black Hole\u2019<\/i>, ‘Burn\u2019<\/i> and ‘I Am (Become Death)\u2019<\/i> thrive off thick guitars and large drums with Merritt\u2019s countering vocals continuously bringing a tranquil quality. Similarly, the title track and ‘Time Is a Length of Rope\u2019<\/i> weave in a tender, hypnotic delivery proving to be two of the albums quieter moments.<\/p>\n

As an overall unit, the imposing wall of sound and Merritt\u2019s acrobatic vocals makes O’Brother<\/b> an almighty force. ‘Endless Light\u2019<\/i> takes everything the band has done previously and sees them becoming more concise and tighter. This album should<\/i> lead them on to better things, as ‘Endless Light\u2019<\/i> is their best album so far and one they should be proud of.<\/p>\n

5\/5<\/p>\n