The Lanterns - Pointless & the Moon is Cracking

Little time has passed since the Lanterns self-titled debut, though it seems much has happened to Alexander Mikel in the meantime. Aside from a seemingly painful breakup, Mikel has matured as both a lyricist and an artist. The Lanterns can no longer be deemed a Mount Eerie clone; while instrumentally it still borrows heavily from Elverum, Pointless & the Moon is cracking is more reminiscent of the great Bob Dylan. A welcomed shift in styles, as Mikel’s unique voice is the impressive crux of Pointless & the Moon is Cracking.

The simple melodies provide faint glimpses into the insanely lucid mind of Mikel, occasionally claustrophobic and whimsical while being simultaneously grounded. Kissing Apples and You Just Had to Say are spectacular openers that firmly broaden Mikel’s instrumental palate. Lock Your Doors and Windows is an incredibly lush guitar-driven anthem, as is the effervescent As Devillish As Ever; however, the real soul of the album emanates from the solemn pieces, such as Are You Smilling Still? and Bear Creek. The album certainly works best when the focus is placed on the exceptional John-Fahey-ian guitar plucking, the magniloquent confessions, or the subliminal field recordings.

Unfortunately, the album tends to waffle quite a bit. While Bear Creek marvellously captivates one for its impressive nine-minute length, the seven-minute track Never Coming Back Again truly exceeds its welcome. Furthermore, tracks such as Go On, Honey, Babe and In the Back of My Eyes tend to self-indulge lyrically; thankfully both deliver instrumentally varied accompaniments and outros. The album is inconsistent, though its highlights certainly make up for its shortcomings.

Nonetheless, The Lanterns have thankfully finally developed their own sound. Despite sounding jaded and carefree, Pointless & the Moon is Cracking is meticulously precise in its emotional output. Moreover, each track is admirably developed and well fleshed out. Mikel should be careful to not re-tread Dylan’s steps in his next efforts, though; hopefully between releases he can find new genres to intertwine into his style. Regardless of what direction Mikel choses to take after Pointless & the Moon is Cracking, one can hope he puts just as much heart and soul into it.

Great

Listen to it here:

https://thelanterns.bandcamp.com/album/pointless-the-moon-is-cracking