If you're not familiar with The Acid, then today is your lucky day. The trio, led by Aussie vocalist RY X, Brighton-based Adam Freeland, and Los Angeles-born Nalepa have been consistently brilliant from day one, and despite the fact that they make music which is just about the farthest thing from pop, you can't deny the fact that almost every song they've put out so far has been a joy to listen to. Oftentimes, their work sounds like something alt-J would put out (but played at half-speed), and there are times when you wonder where certain songs are going, but by the end of them, you find that they always come full circle, with yourself enjoying sounds you never thought you would. Liminal is The Acid's debut album, and it's got a lot of the singles from their EP on the roster. In fact, all four songs from the EP are on the album as well, but you won't hear us complaining, because this is the kind of music that can stand up to repeated plays. The band hasn't even scratched the surface of its potential fan base yet, either, so it would be a crime not to recycle songs like "Animal", "Basic Instinct", and "Tumbling Lights" in the hopes that they reach an even larger audience. Throughout Liminal, the word "understated" repeatedly comes to mind, and often, The Acid's songwriting style feels like a Ferrari puttering through a neighborhood. There's so much potential energy folded into the album, and some people might find it frustrating that they don't ever lash it out when they get the chance. This dynamic will really make itself apparent on songs like "Animal" and "Basic Instinct", and the band will treat you to an epic buildup or note progression that has you itching for a big crescendo, but it never really comes. One could argue that a lot of these unfulfilled expectations are a byproduct of the overly formulaic pop music and EDM that's become so popular recently, but there is definitely something to be said for holding back. To really get the most out of the album, you're gonna have to recalibrate your assumptions a bit, and if it's a drop you're expecting, then maybe lay off the Steve Angelo for a while. Just let each song do its thing, and you'll find that The Acid has created a lush jungle of sound filled with exotic vocals and rare production work. Our favorites among the new songs from the project are "RA" and "Red". "RA" introduces itself to the listener with a roughly recorded guitar intro, the mic picks up the guitarists' fingers as they slide across the bronze-wound strings in between chords, and the bit together set the tone for the rest of the track. The Acid isn't worried about keeping everything perfectly polished (in fact, it seems they've embraced the rougher quality), and when the rest of the music gets mixed in, you're left with a very honest sound that's both organic and refined enough. "Red" is a lot more electronic than "RA", but the attention to detail is there in spades, and the vocals do a great job of complimenting the minimalist beat, ensuring things stay interesting. Both tracks are winners, in any event, and they've proven to all The Acids fans that they've got enough quality material to not only make a knockout EP, but a fully fleshed out album as well. Next up on our list of favorites are the aforementioned "Tumbling Lights", "Animal", "Basic Instinct", and "Creeper". "Creeper" has already been out for a couple months now, and the rest of 'em were part of the EP that was released last year, but time has not dulled their shine, and if even if there was some patina, it would only serve to make the music more enjoyable this time around. "Animal" is probably the best example on the album where the band has made more with less, as the whole thing is pretty much just a handful of ambient textures, a few melancholy guitar notes here and there, and, somehow, obviously solid enough to have you hooked even if it wouldn't normally be your cup of tea. "Tumbling lights" and "Creeper" are a lot more gritty than the rest of the pack, and the liberal use of crunchy, drawn-out synth chords are the perfect way to liven up the album. Give both a listen if you're looking for something a bit more aggressive and sharp. Last up on the favorites list (but most certainly not least) is "Basic Instinct". To date, this is probably their most well-known song, and for good reason, too. If you had to pick a track that best captured what the band's work sounded like in one song, then this one would be it. It's got a lot of great guitar work, and the songwriting is second-to-none. The Acid has been enjoying popularity as a darling of the indie-experimental world, but we wouldn't be surprised if this album starts to pick up steam with other groups of music fans as well. It's just that good, and when you have music of this quality on tap, people are certainly going to take notice. You can stream all the album on SoundCloud, catch our highlights below, or pre-order on iTunes. Liminal will be available on July 15th.
The Acid