In the style of groups like Good Charlotte and Dashboard Confessional, this record’s music harks back to a time when emo pop-rock was king.
Archer’s songs tend to begin with a stripped down vocals and guitar arrangement, building to a climax that incorporates the whole backing band.
The sound created is successfully atmospheric, most notably on one of his stronger, heartfelt tracks, “Slurred Sobriety,” which builds to include the full accompaniment of rippling piano and solid marching drumbeats.
The overall mood of Venture To Breathe is melancholy, even a little angsty, and even after a few listens, Archer’s work doesn’t really catch on.
His music builds, but it rarely changes up. The tracks are so cleanly produced that they lose the integrity of what was originally created. The same lilting rhythms are present in both the backing arrangement and vocals for the entire record.
The EP’s shortcomings are disappointing, because there is clear passion in Archer’s song-writing and delivery. Compared to his first EP Tongue Tied – a more acoustic and soulful piece of work – Venture To Breathe feels a little clichéd and fake.
The perfect long-play album for Archer would be one that contains the uplift of “Slurred Society” but with the sensitivity of his acoustic work that is prominent in Tongue Tied – but not just for stripped-back intros.
With some tweaks here and there, Austin Archer has the potential to create something more genuine and strike a chord with the right people.
