Experimenting with jazz and funk influences takes
June of 44 in a new direction on their fourth album,
Anahata. The songs are atmospheric, mellow, and moody with more of a groove than previous albums. The band takes a rhythm-focused approach with bass player Fred Erskine and drummer Doug Scharin using piano loops, wah-wah bass, keyboards, vibraphones, and trumpet. Scharin's metronomic drumming propels each track and gives the songs a techno-like edge. Guitars take a backseat on this album and range from quiet, melodic meandering to calculated, explosive bursts. Erskine shares vocal duties with Sean Meadows and
Jeff Mueller. However, Erskine's shaky, whiny vocals are weak; Meadows and
Mueller's delicate, whispering vocals are far more accessible and effective. The track, "Wear Two Eyes (Boom)," also appears on the
Anatomy of Sharks EP, but exists here in a different form with a major trumpet emphasis. "Cardiac Atlas" and "Five Dollars in My Pocket" epitomize the band's funkier moments with heavy bass and spoken vocal delivery. In contrast, "Equators to Bi-Polar" and "Southeast Boston," are lighter, more melodic songs with breathy vocals.
Anahata can be a difficult listen, especially when expecting
June of 44's earlier material, but the album is tight, well-executed, and ultimately intriguing. ~ Tracy Frey