Were you blown away by that lone vocal performance on Pelican’s 2009 masterpiece, What We All Come To Need? Wonder who that “voice” was and where you could gobble up more of his singing? If you didn’t take the time to check out the liner notes (Or if you got the album under less than ideal circumstances), then Allen Epley is the man you’re looking for. Coincidentally enough his day job, The Life And Times, just released a new record entitled Lost Bees and if you liked the subtle intensity he brought to that one Pelican song then you’re in for a treat!
“Again” begins Lost Bees and could easily be the next Failure classic if, y’know, that band hadn’t decided to start making new music again. The song, and the band, stand on their own legs though with these almost chaotic bursts of sound that eventually come to a head, peak, and then come crashing down in the most glorious way. Next up, “Ice Cream Eyes” is propelled by Chris Metcalf’s driving beats while “Eyes And Teeth” gets a little prog and injects some space-Pop into the album.
If for some reason you need a break from Epley’s unassuming yet haunting vocals that stick with you well after the songs end then “Maserati” is definitely your jam as The Life And Times “Pelican” it up with this rocking instrumental. Metcalf thunders along during “Bored To Death” and perfectly synchs up with Eric Abert’s bass while Epley wails on guitar channeling Ken Andrews and Troy Van Leeuwen. Epley takes the high vocal road on the anthemic “Passion Pit” while further on, “Palatine” brings to mind Sap-era Alice In Chains.
In the vein of Failure at times with modern touches that Aeges do so well, The Life And Times is helping to usher in the next great era of post-grunge and space rock with Lost Bees. Lost Bees is out now through Slimstyle Records. You can get yours digitally here and here or through The Life And Times directly here.