If eyes are the windows to the soul, then music is undoubtedly a mirror to the mind, particularly in the case of School Of Night.
The solo project of The Antlers’ multi-instrumentalist Darby Cicci, School Of Night is like a soundtrack to the musician’s dreams. It’s a misty, gossamer-threaded collection of songs that defy convention (each track clocks in at over five minutes) and emerge straight from Cicci’s subconscious.
Playing to his strengths, School Of Night’s incorporation of layered synths, keyboard, trumpets, and organs results in a nebulous sonic kaleidoscope.
‘Lying’ is a popping, bubbling confection with soaring vocals that are more otherworldly murmurings than distinguishable lyrics.
‘Doktor’ continues in a similar vein, scattering delicate, descending piano notes over a languid drumbeat.
Fans of The Antlers will be pleased that Cicci has not strayed far from their trademark introspective indie pop-rock sound.
He had also incorporated some obvious influences – Grizzly Bear, Sigur Rós, and Radiohead’s later work all spring to mind, and there’s a touch of Air’s Moon Safari (particularly on the electro-meandering ‘Vacuum’).
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The heartbreak in ‘Fire Escape’ is articulated through mournful trumpets and Cicci’s steely self-mantra to “just keep your eyes on the road”.
Drums and bass come into play on ‘Play Dead’, the double-snare pattern creating a slinking Latin-inspired beat that, combined with the forlorn trumpets, forms the EP’s most accessible, albeit noir, moment.
The weakness of the EP is that like dreams, the majority of the songs, though beautifully intoxicating, appear only partially formed.
Even the most energetic track, ‘Play Dead’, builds towards a crescendo that it never quite reaches. But as School Of Night shows us, dreams don’t always have to make sense.
