L'Altra Different Days CD

A fine return to form after a noticeable absence, L'Altra have crafted an album that skillfully balances and blurs the line between electronic music and a nostalgic longing for a whispy dream pop revival. Most people who are familiar with vocalist Lindsay Anderson from her stint as the unofficial vocalist in residence for Hefty Records; making vocal cameos on both Telefon Tel Aviv and Slicker's records in 2004. So it comes as a surprise to no one that the group would enlist Telefon co-brainchild Joshua Eustis to helm the production board this time around. But unlike Telefon's frantic need to clutter every measure with electronic sound and jam skittery rhythms at every turn, Anderson and partner Joseph Costa opt for spacious simplicity and leave the complexity to the cryptic lyrics. The lush and melancholic arrangements so omnipresent on previous albums take their usual front row seat for the majority of the album, as do the split-channel vocals and quivering harmonies between Anderson and Costa; the stuff that made earlier releases such wonderful treasures. The themes of isolation, solitude and general soul-crushing existence makes it their most blatantly honest work and helps further reinforce the notion that this is their most fully realized and beautiful release to date. ~ Rob Theakston

Recording information: Chicago, Unites States (08/2003-01/2004).

Personnel: Lindsay Anderson (vocals, electric guitar, flute, melodica, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, Moog synthesizer); Marc Hellner (guitar, programming); Nate Walcott (trumpet, flugelhorn); Eben English (drums, shaker, tambourine); Kevin Duneman (drums); Charles Cooper (hand claps, programming); Joshua Eustis (hand claps).

Audio Mixer: Joshua Eustis.

Magnet (p.102) - "Eustis' understated, mechanized beats give L'Altra the tension and edge it needs."