Afternoon X

Vanishing Twin have never been afraid of change, but on Afternoon X, they undertake a radical metamorphosis. Down to the lineup of Cathy Lucas, Valentina Magaletti, and Susumu Mukai, the band also does away with the overt concepts of their previous work. Instead of Choose Your Own Adventures musings on alternate realities, the multi-lingual manifestos against prejudice (The Age of Immunology), or domestic fantasias (Ooki Gekkou), Vanishing Twins fourth album feels loosely organized around the idea of transformation itself. "All that is solid melts into air," Lucas intones in the bewitching prologue "Melty," setting the tone for the changes to come. Though the albums sound is far from stripped down, its clear that Afternoon X is the work of fewer, and more unified, creative voices with more room to express themselves. Bassist Mukai and drummer/percussionist Magaletti are given free rein, delivering outstanding work on songs as diverse as "Marbles" clockwork funk and the title track, which sets its sultry meditations to tumbling, hip-hop-inspired rhythms. Vanishing Twins tight interplay only heightens the albums hallucinatory qualities. Theyve never sounded trippier, or more elegant, than on "Lotus Eater," a swirling mirage of harp, hand drums, and Lucas twinned vocals that ranks among the bands most arresting work. This sophistication comes at a cost, however; at times, the group downplays the warmth that made their prior albums as welcoming as they were experimental. The murmuring minimalism of "Brain Weather" evokes Vanishing Twin tinkering in a sonic laboratory, readying heady pieces like "The Down Below," where they flit between fascinating sounds -- wind chimes, droning organs, sitars, and squelching electronics among many others -- that theyre not especially interested in tying together neatly. They lean into this reserved mood so much that the albums more whimsical moments can feel extraneous. The elfin vocals at the end of "Lazy Garden" add little to the songs whispery pastoral psychedelia, especially when compared to how the closing track "Subito" immerses listeners in its deep contemplation. While Afternoon X reflects some growing (or should that be shrinking?) pains, it also reveals great potential. Not many groups sound more mysterious four albums into their career than when they began, but these shifting, shadowy visions suggest Vanishing Twin have more tricks up their collective sleeve. ~ Heather Phares