"Infinite Keys" is the first release for the Oklahoma based Ester Drang on Jade Tree Records. Prior to working with Jade Tree the band released a full-length (Goldenwest) with Philly based label Burnt Toast Vinyl. The band is currently on tour with labelmates Pedro the Lion.
It's about time this band have gotten some more attention in the indie rock world. A friend had recommended that I check out this band at the Cornerstone Festival in 2000. I was immediately impressed by the scope of this band. Here we are 3 years later...
"Infinite Keys" is the band's debut for Jade Tree Records. This isn't much of a departure from the band's last full-length on Burnt Toast Vinyl, however the majority of the songs on this newest disc are a bit shorter and more formulaic than its predecessor. This isn't a bad thing. But some fans may be surprised by the change in song lengths. At any rate, Ester Drang still create beautifully layered landscapes of sound. Attached to lazy beats that make your head bob you'll find bass, guitar, rhodes and the occasional spattering of saxophone or instruments not included in the band's standard arsenal.
The disc starts off with the almost chaotic sounding "Temple Mount" then from there steadies itself on a path of melancholy/dreamy atmosphere. Lyrically the album seems anchored around the band's spiritual beliefs without coming off as cheesy or forced.
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Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Trae CadenheadEster Drang has a sound all its own. Walls of atmosphere accentuate a lush organic musical landscape. The music is complex in its arrangement, yet the listener can also take a step back and appreciate the full beauty of all the instrumentation combined. The foundation is laid with guitar, bass, and drums, but piano and synthesizers are also essential to the thick atmosphere. The music is strong…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Matt ModrichEster Drang is a four-piece band out of Oklahoma. Infinite Keys is its first record on Jadetree Records. Ester Drang appeals strongly to fans of atmospheric rock bands like Radiohead. With falsetto vocals and plenty of keyboard, they lure listeners into another world of existence. Infinite Keys is probably the best Ester Drang release to date. "Oceans of You," "One Hundred Times," "The Greatest…Opus 2003Reviewed by Jason MoreheadEster Drang's previous album, Goldenwest, began with a glorious cascade of glassy piano notes and shimmering drones. Sounding like the perfect blend of Steve Reich and Spiritualized, it easily set the mood for an album that delivered one sonic bliss after another. Compare that with the opening minutes of Infinite Keys, with its alien squall of metallic feedback and harrowing strings, and the…Similar sounding releases
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