Sun Airway - "Soft Fall"

Artist: Sun Airway

Album: Soft Fall

Release Date: October 2nd, 2012

Label: Dead Oceans

Review by: Sean Kayden

     In 2010, Sun Airway released their stunning debut album called “Nocturne Of Exploded Crystal Chandelier.” However, in spite of what the pretentious appellation may convey, the album itself was an ethereal but lively infusion of electronic and dreamy pop rock. With a significant task at hand to follow up with another great album surely poses the question, does the band have any artistry left over? The short answer is yes. While the genre has been beating to a bloody pulp by the multitude of bands tying to find the success of electronic aficionados Animal Collective and M83, Sun Airway has always struck me as a band that was never trying to replicate any sounds of bands before them. They simply have a deep predilection for lavish synths, fuzzed out beats and ambitious pop songs, which shouldn’t be held against them for any reason. 

     Main player Jon Barthmus’ singing is loose and somewhat lackadaisical sounding. The Chris Martin-esque vocals are peaceful and pretty. The sounds of Sun Airway are really easy-going, which often leads to songs whizzing by without realizing a song ended and a new one has started. That’s not to say the songs are fast paced, but if you multi-task while listening, you may not even become conscious of the song change. Barthmus’ singing has always seemed to take a backseat to the music, but with the sophomore record, “Soft Fall,” it doesn’t feel entirely secondary all the time. Between the two albums, the differences aren’t too noticeable at first listen. On repeated listens, I discovered Sun Airway honing their craft more so than ever. While the debut was a rapturous experimental treat, the follow up record sounds more like a band feeling at ease inside their skin. Instead of feeling like newcomers to the party, Sun Airway is now hosting the shindig. The songs here have this fragility stitched to them as if each song is cautious and attentive. From the distance, Sun Airway may enthrall you with its warm sound, but when you come closer, you’re not as likely to feel the same way. It’s still pleasant to the ears yet the tracks just flow right pass you if you don’t pay close too attention. 

     Most songs here need frequent listens before you can get close to them. While no song really stands out like a sore thumb, the consistency of the album is fairly superb. The compilation feels like one complete set of songs rather than random songs strung together to make an unrelated, disconnected record. While things may be difficult for Sun Airway to breakthrough with the masses since the genre is overpopulated, at the very least Sun Airway has originality, creativity, and integrity to boot. Overall, “Soft Fall” is a pretty damn good sophomore album. It may have not hit the same highs of the first record as much as I would have liked it to, but I can respect the noble effort. I think I’ve would have preferred an album not limited to its restraints, but concerned with pushing even further. Perhaps next time Sun Airway will expand their rich alluring sound to the fullest because I still believe the very best is yet to come. 

Grade: 7.7 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Close”, “Laketop Swimmers”,  “Soft Fall” “Black Noise”

Published by Mountain Views News on October 13th, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n41/p12.htm