ANNABEL "Now That We're Alive" (Self-Released) Review by Corey Schmidt
It is difficult to wrap one's head around the music of Kent, Ohio's ANNABEL. The five tracks that make up their Now That We're Alive EP cut across the curriculum of indie rock styles. A song like "Bouquet Mines," with its lush instrumentation and soothing background vocals, brings to mind the courteous indie pop of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE while opener "Parade Rest" features an exuberant ending that has more in common with purveyors of pop-punk. Gentle key notes , soft and sparse vocals, and a steady, marching beat help to create a fragile atmosphere in "...And Elsewhere." This technique works wonders as the group gradually builds the intensity of the song without it sounding forced or too post-rock-ish. Despite having the aura of a "little band," closer "If The Accident Will" proves they have the cojones to stand with some of the powerhouses in indie and post-rock. Once again led by a steady drum rhythm, extra instrumentation and a wall of guitar sounds provide momentum throughout the song's duration, cultivating a sound that, to me, is as similar to ANATHALLO as it is EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY or fellow Ohioans POMEGRANATES. Truthfully, though, comparing ANNABEL to any one band or sound is challenging because such a comparison may not exist. These fellas have succeeded in creating a familiar style of music on Now That We're Alive that turns out to be quite a stimulating force.
