Style: Post Rock
Primary Emotions/Themes: Man vs. nature
Thoughts: Esmarine's music prior to hearing this album was largely based around acoustic instruments to create distinctive sounds that resembled nature. At least that was my experience in my limited exposure to the band. Lost Voices takes a starkly different approach however.
Where as Le Lechuza focused on the music emulating the sounds of nature, Lost Voices sees the band incorporating electric instruments in order to further their sound. Both The Neighborhoods Rise and A River Runs Through This City are strongly based in traditional rock instruments: guitar, bass, and drums. The drums in particular are a huge contrast to the other music I've hard from the band.
The addition of percussion to the sound makes it immediately more forceful and almost jarring. The guitars also emphasize the forwardness of the music compared to the bands back catalogue. It's much more of a traditional take on post rock than I was expecting... especially considering the classical leaning compositions of the past.
It's not until we get to Pas Trop Pas Tropes that the band returns to the more subtle and gentler styling of Le Lechuza. It's a welcome bit of respite. The rest does not last for long though, as 19/14 continues seeing the band explore the more guitar driven sound on the album.
It was at this point that I had to accept that the band was moving past the sound that I adored so much. They were embracing the rock aspect of the genre and Lost Voices is a very different take from the band than La Lechuza is.
Between the two Le Lechuza is by far my favorite, but Lost Voices is not without merit. In it's exploration of the guitar sound we do still get moments where the acoustic instruments of the past are worked into the sound. These moments are handled with elegance and tact, and are some of my favorites on the record. But when it comes down to it, if I only have time to spin one record from the band I know which one it will be.
Written September 9th 2024
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