Today: Mar 29, 2024

Album Review: Brothertiger’s “Out of Touch”

Dylan Haviland – Arts & Entertainment Editor 

“Out of Touch,” the third debut album from the pop synth group, “Brothertiger,” is sensitive, technically proficient and human.

The album was released on Dec. 4 and features John Jagos on vocals, synth, keyboard and guitar, Jon Markson on vocals, guitar and bass, in addition to Nick Pope on drums and Will Walden on guitar, according to their Bandcamp page. The Bandcamp page also states that Jagos and Markson produced the album.

When compared to top tier synth player, Noah Lennox of “Panda Bear,” whose music is haunting and trippy, “Brothertiger” matches up with their genuine lyrics and creating fantastic melodies out of simple chords and synth progressions.

“Brothertiger’s” newest album succeeds because it sticks with a consistent and fluid sound between every track. In this, each track keeps contains multiple elements such as instruments, synths and vocals but keeps it simple enough to create satisfying punch with each song.

The album starts off strong with its first track, “Beyond the Infinite,” which stuck out as a possible hit off the album. This is not implying that the track is radio friendly, but it combines their most enjoyable and well-sounding lyrics with an upbeat and active synth and drums.

This track is followed up by “Wake,” Jagos voice comes through nicely in the song, competing well with the synth, steadily picking up and become faster towards the end.

The track “Fall Apart” has one of the best intros of the album. It begins with 50 seconds of humming, mystical noises and upbeat rhythms. One of the more mellower tracks, “Fall Apart” is reminiscent of the group, “Tycho” creating a great sense of ambience in the beginning.

“Out of Touch,” named after the album relies more on vocals and the band than most of the tracks, Pope’s keeps a jazzy beat on the drums and Jagos tests his vocals. It also has a pleasant instrument starting at 1:55.

While “Out of Touch” is the vocal and instrumental gem of the album, “Jungle Floor” shows the group’s true talent on the synth and keyboard. The track’s rhythm bursts with life the further one plays into, each minute a new tune is added creating a sublime finale.

According to “Brothertiger”s Bandcamp page, “Jungle Floor” was the only track not written fully by them, containing lyrics from Rudyard Kipling’s “The Second Jungle Book,” “Morning Song in the Jungle.”

“Out of Touch” falter’s slightly towards the end, while the tracks maintain a good flow they don’t build up as much momentum as the first half of the album. The tracks “High Tide,” “Grenada,” and “Drift” seem to not have as much of an unique sound to stand out from the rest of the tracks.

One of the redeeming tracks of off the end is, “Upon Virdian Waterways,” serving as the medium between vocals, instruments and synths in the album. A sad and heartfelt tune that is brought out by its lyrics and low sounding vocals. This second to last track serves as a farewell to a well composed and produced album.

Rating: 8.5/10

Photo Credit: Gergely Csatari

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