The music moves benevolently and sometimes uneasily through the fog, pulling away when the air gets too close and revealing a soft sensitivity beneath the shell. As though performed by a gaggle of bandanna-clad hippies from a Volkswagen van, The Asteroid No. 4’s fifth full-length LP is a satisfying blend of nebulous pop and psychedelic folk.
These Flowers of Ours: A Treasury of Witchcraft and Devilry belongs in an open field somewhere alongside strands of beads and perhaps a bag of some sort of grassy substance. It is an elixir of pure perception, a charming wave of filmy tonic with the ability to overtake the natural frenzied order and incite a lasting peace.
This band of hippies hails from Philadelphia and has been unleashing their brand of soft, blurry rock on the world since the latter half of the 90s. Swirling with influences from the 60s and a smidge of 90's Britrock, The Asteroid No. 4 is the ideal collective for road trippin’.
Scott Vitt’s vocals lead the way through the haze, working as a minimalistic instrument and never overcoming the music to stand apart from the crowd. Backed by Adam Weaver’s drums, Damien Taylor’s bass, Aislinn van Kriedt’s keyboards and backing vocals, her husband Ryan’s vocals and guitars, and the steady hand of Eric Harms on lead guitar, Vitt is able to pull this commune together for some truly sweet musical memory-making.
The open jolt of distortion and tweets on “My Love” gives way soon enough to a smattering of acoustic decency and within seconds we get a solid sense of who The Asteroid No. 4 really are. The song expands and contracts like breath through lungs, Vitt’s vocals quietly and almost vigilantly swaying back and forth over the gossamer milieu.
A happy-sounding guitar breaks through the air for the intro of the Britpop-influenced “Let It Go,” one of the album’s more dynamic tracks. And “I Look Around” steals a touch of Noel Gallagher guitars, but pulls together an amiably succinct track with sturdy rhythm and cool sonic keys.
The six-minute “War” is a diaphanous piece that moves slowly but resonates profoundly as a highly poignant song. As with many of the songs, Vitt’s vocals become part of the group and don’t stand out all that much.
“She Touched the Sky” twinkles with distorted guitar fluff and Taylor’s bass cuts a valuable groove down the middle of the track. “Flowers of Ours” takes a little early R.E.M. influence a long way.
Overall, I was impressed with These Flowers of Ours. It is not particularly a thrilling album and is surely suited for those who like their music pliable and light. But The Asteroid No. 4 has crafted some beautiful sounds and can do little to mask the joy they experience while performing.
For an album of minimalistic, fuzzy pop, These Flowers of Ours fits the bill adequately.
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