The closing track. At nearly 7 minutes, it is the album’s epic. It begins with a single, distorted piano chord that rings out for ten seconds. Then, layers of guitar feedback build like a storm front. There are no conventional vocals for the first three minutes—just wordless moans and treated noise. When Halstead finally sings, it’s a mantra: “Everything is alive / Everything is dead.” The band slowly disintegrates into white noise and a single, repeating synth note. The album doesn’t end so much as dissolve into the ether. It’s a stunning, brave conclusion.
By [Author Name]
Date: October 2023
Label: Dead Oceans
Rating: 9/10
The album was written and recorded over several years, interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of Halstead’s close friend and collaborator, Simon “Scott” Scott. That grief seeps into the lyrics—themes of loss, resilience, and the strangeness of still being alive. But it’s never heavy-handed. Instead, the music feels like a quiet hand on your shoulder.
