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The Most Serene Republic
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August 7, 2009 1:24 PM by Jess
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By Adam Barndt
July 2009
Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff
Ontario based indie-rock outfit The Most Serene Republic ditch the concept album and work with Broken Social scene’s engineer Dave Newfield on their tranquil and hooky fourth album …And the Ever Expanding Universe.
The Most Serene Republic blend hipster indie rock with frolicking pop and dashes of classical nuance on …And the Ever Expanding Universe. The combination leads to a series of well-crafted and pleasant songs that bounce from calm introspective ambiance to catchy pop hooks with electronic blips and stitches.
The album is a product of the bands desire to move away from concept albums to a less cohesive collection of songs. While there may not be a running theme or story behind the tracks, their similarity in style blends them together making for a complete album. The tracks are different enough to keep listeners guessing, yet similar enough to retain the feel of a concept album.
The sound is at home with indie contemporaries like Death Cab for Cutie and Grizzly Bear, but offers a more fleshed out, full sound by adding more atmosphere and layering without losing pop responsiveness.
The tone is set early with the pounding piano intro of “Bubble Reputation,” which quickly switches from ambiance to indie rock sway.
“Vessels of a Donor Look,” offers the albums most accessible piece, beginning with the
acoustic strum of a Ben Gibbard like riff building to a catchy chorus featuring the bands signature male/ female vocal harmonies.
Mood and layering are not lost even on the albums most tightly crafted pop moments such as “Vessles,” and “Phi.” The swirls of electronic staccato and mellow indie sadness are always
present.
The instrumental track “Patternicity,” is the albums most composed, classical throw back moment. Driven by a several piece string section, the track sounds more at home in a symphony hall than a rock club.
Singers Adrian Jewett and Emma Ditchburn’s voices play off each other throughout the entire album, creating alluring and haunting harmonies that give the album a sound setting it apart from contemporaries.
…And the Ever Expanding Universe is right at home in the current indie-rock climate. Not setting a new direction but rather solidifying the current state of hipster sound.
In doing so, however, they created an accessible, yet deep and complex album that will appeal to more than just American Apparel hipsters.
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