The fifth time I’ve seen Peter Silberman’s wonderful band in as many months, and I can’t see myself getting bored of them any time soon. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if in years to come their semaphore effort “Hospice” is in held in the same awed regard as Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.” Both tackle poignant subject matter in a stunningly poetic and moving way, without ever seeming overwrought or wallowing in misery for the sake of it, but here the focus is even tighter- the story of a man’s fraught relationship with his dying lover. Not the cheeriest of subject material, but the best works of art tend to reflect the darker side of life and The Antlers succeed masterfully without succumbing to shameless melodrama. The narrative being so central to the music, it’s natural that the band play the album straight through with little banter to disrupt the flow; though this may seem alienating at times it’s a necessary sacrifice to ensure the maximal emotional impact.
What *was* slightly disappointing was the muddy sound that robbed some of the power of Silberman’s vocals; I also felt Sylvia was slightly shorn of its emotional resonance due to an over-rapid tempo. Nonetheless, it was an achingly poignant hour of dense guitars, slow building crescendos and beautiful passion, most perfectly encapsulated in the final song, the devastating “Epilogue.” From its acapella intro to its intense post-rock coda, it’s an absolute marvel of a closer; one of the most affecting musical moments of the year, and one that I can imagine will be only more sublime when they perform it at the peerless Union Chapel next March.
(Photo: John Gleeson)
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