Absinthe Blind - The Everyday Separation

4x****
Subtle and contemplative, "The Gentleman's C"**** is a calming introduction, built on a delicate riff and culminating in a dueling horn serenade. "Nation Loved Separation"**** is brilliantly dreamy, though the rhythm guitar has a biting tone borrowed from Afghan Whigs. The minimal instrumentation of "Experience..." highlights the clunky dual vocal and Adam Fein's vocal limitations. "Antarctica"**** is a more conventional, floating along with nicely played second guitar. "The Two Leading In" is alternately sleepy and and Promise Ring meets Pearl Jam grunge rock; the slow-fast-slow thing never works for me. "Vanity Calls" is the closest to the first AB song I ever heard, drenched in delay and Fein's prominent, slightly out of tune vocals. Mid tempo "Streamlined" and "Daydream Set" are similarly unexciting. "Rising"**** is driven by guitars that absolutely scream mid-chorus. In its way "You Should Get Out More" is the perfect ending, a eulogy complete with synth-strings that gives way to the 'power' part of this ballad, a heavy Kashmir guitar-fest that blinks out in psychedelic digital manipulation.

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