It’s rare that I hear a brand fresh for the very first time and am immediately impressed by its ingenuity– listening to a full album every day for 450 days in a row will do that to you, especially when you supplement that already staggering habit with hits of singles throughout the day. But when I first heard Elder’s Reflections of a Floating World last week I was genuinely impressed with the craftsmanship on every inch of the record. They’re a throwback to the opulence of 70’s prog-rock and all its sheer guitar shreddiness, compiling epic journeys in both length (each song on Reflections averages a run-time just over 10 and a half minutes) and scale (they draw inspiration from everything from doom metal to math-rock to the sugary sweet melodic hooks of the late Duane Allman) that transform and evolve in real-time during the course of their epic journeys. There’s a time and place for radio-friendly hooks you don’t have to think too much about, and then there’s a time and place for experiencing something that feels like it’s exploring a new planet for the very first time. Elder is certainly the latter, and Reflections of a Floating World is a transcendent experience that should not be missed. This is one of my most favorite and cherished “new music” finds over the past year and a half. It’s a rock and roll revelation that cuts its own path on its journey to find new ground. And I’m happy that they found it fit to bring us along for that ride.
Standout Songs: “Sanctuary”, “The Falling Veil”, “Staving Off Truth”, “Blind”
Matthew. 