Crack

15/20

In this, their second record, Other Lives have created a soundscape that draws you in from start to finish with an effortless tug of their musical ingenuity, blending folk and classical elements brilliantly to form a layered listen. The art of album-craft is certainly not dead in Stillwater, Oklahoma, from which the multi-instrumentalist quintet hail and where they spent over a year shaping the sounds that eventually comprise the 40 minutes on offer. The soothing vocals of Jesse Tabish, while acting as a focal point, manage to dissipate into the background when necessary to allow for greater exploration of the lattice of music created. While highlights such as For 12 and Landforms stand out, every other track has its context in the record as a whole. Set aside some time to allow this into your headspace.

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Words: Aaron Willson

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