Alone I Admire

Too relaxed to be true rock & roll and not quite ambient, Auburn Lull's debut CD, Alone I Admire, is more like symphonic space rock for the horn-rimmed set. The album is epic in scope, drenched with lazy keyboards, ethereal guitars, and synth-heavy textures. Songs move at a turtle-crawl pace, with shambling noise and sleepy attitude. Vocals on most songs are either non-existent or play a small, mixed-to-the-background role. The track "Old Mission" owes as much to Arvo Part as it does Spiritualized; with its stark cello and ever-shifting patchwork of synthesizers, the piece swirls along, foggy and brilliant. On a few of the numbers on Alone I Admire, drummer Jason Weisinger uses brushes rather than sticks, creating a jazzy, early Verve feel. Andrew Prinz's production suits the compositions well, mixing somber bass tones with the occasional piano flourish or drum loop. On "The Last Beat," tambourines and guitar intertwine to pleasantly diffuse the cold synths, adding organic warmth. While not as adventurous as labelmates Asha Vida and Mahogany, Auburn Lull has produced a fine debut and their best music to date. ~ Dale Nicholls