England in 1819: Alma – CD Review

Essential tracks: “Air That We Once Breathed,” “Waterfall,” “The Elephant”

Recommended if you like: Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, spelunking

It’s always a nice respite when an unconventional band breaks away from the familiar sea of indie music in search of a sound bigger than its music, the audience or the venue. England in 1819’s reliance on traditional horns, guitar, piano and vocals to produce grandiose anthems has always paid off as moving and powerful, and never more so than on its latest release, Alma.

Songwriting prevails here, without gimmicks or unnecessary hooks, and the band brings classic training to the album in a way that builds seamlessly from subtle, soft-spoken beginnings to powerful walls of sound and emotion.

“Air That We Once Breathed” and “Skyscraper” deceptively pull the listener in before crescendos play out to pounding drums and massive horns.

By no means a danceable album, Alma is thoughtful and reflective. It’s hard not to drift off in thought to the instrumental “Littil Batur” and peaceful “Waterfall.”

While England in 1819’s post-rock style doesn’t necessarily lend itself to upbeat tunes, the progression of Alma is like staring into a cavern: grand and beautiful, dark, but hopeful for a glimmer of light now and then. englandin1819.com