This is a concept album about disappearing—one could assume voluntary or involuntary.
The Antlers’ second album, Hospice, layers dense fuzz effects and somber piano, which combine to create a sonic atmosphere of sadness, isolation, and loss. Vocalist Peter Silberman created the record as answer to why he disappeared after moving to New York City in 2006, yet perhaps more than an answer we simply get a soundtrack to the entire process of a person becoming completely disconnected.
The word “hospice” itself almost makes you cringe, as it conjures up thoughts of sterile rooms and slow recovery. Tracks like “Kettering” do a great job of setting the stage for what sounds like the beginning of a long journey through darkness. For the most part, muted tracks like “Atrophy” feature Silberman’s quiet, elegiac singing, while “Bear,” speeds up into a drum-infused cry for help, a la Jeff Buckley.
The record tinkers with tempo, texture, and mood—the result of which is an honest, and honestly good, album.
