Lord Huron Transcends Reality with their Newest Album „The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1“
It has been more than four years since the American indie-rock band Lord Huron released their last studio album, Long Lost and more than ten since their breakout single, The Night We Met. It's a song so iconic, that it has cemented itself in modern pop culture as the ultimate heartbreak anthem. Coming off their short Strange Trails anniversary tour and before heading into their world tour, they’re now back at it again. This time with their fifth official record called The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1.
In typical fashion, as is their brand, this record follows a highly stylized concept, featuring tales of different people across different times and places. The twist this time is the transcendence of reality. Where Strange Trails told stories from a world similar yet different from our own, and Lonesome Dreams threw us into the epic past of adventure and the Old West, then TCSVol1 is put together with songs from all sorts of dimensions. The lore goes deep, and decrypting it all will surely be a blast for all who are into the mysteries of the cosmos. As is the case with all their songs, there are multiple ways to read into them. If you’re trying to decipher the stories and characters, the result might be different if you’re just wanting to interpret the lyrics. For the sake of this review, the latter approach will be taken, as the question about whether one of the songs is talking about aliens or the undead is fun, is not yet answered to a certainty. But if you want to know just how weird the stories can get, the music video of Nothing I Need with its Greek sirens and distorted sense of time will prove a great entry. Otherwise, you can also check out the Way Out There wiki.
This mash-up of realities clashing proves to be TCSVol1's greatest strength, for it provides a narrative explanation for the album's many sounds. Where older records followed a distinct composition, this one doesn’t, at least not to the extent of their previous work. That way, each fan has a piece of their favorite album. From the adventurous compositions of Lonesome Dreams to the rocky sounds of Vide Noir, each one has some representation here. In terms of narrative, this album provides a reflection, with lyrics often times somber and pleading. Be it for the love of someone long gone or the regrets of one’s own decisions, the ideas are clear. The band’s not getting younger, and lines like "I wanna feel like I did back then" from the song The Comedian make it all the clearer. The melody of that particular song is also quite phenomenal, having the vibes of an older jazz song with both a trumpet and a slow piano. The opening song, called Looking Back evokes that feeling from the first second. Told from the perspective of someone obsessed with his past, he doesn’t dare to look forward. It’s somewhat bitter and slow, but it’s a good thematic introduction.
The first single released, placed fifth on the record, is called Who Laughs Last and features actress and Twilight-icon Kristen Stewart as she narrates a long drive through the desert in a desperate attempt to escape her past. Between the spoken lines, which feel like an audiobook, the imagery evoking eldritch horrors, and the rocky chorus, it’s a unique listening experience that’s deeply enjoyable. Comparably, their final single in the run-up to the release, Bag of Bones, also features similar themes. Opening with "This is how my tale begins," the lyrics turn into the story of a man down on his luck and alone. Not only does he pine after someone lost, but in contrast, he also laments his isolation in a pretty resigned tone. It’s all he has to say: "I'll be out there on my own, Just a rattlin' bag of bones." The music video also provides a certain weird creativity, portraying both a man being ragdolled through the desert landscape, while a pantomiming clown puts on a show for the viewer.
Beyond the singles, a favorite is definitely Watch Me Go, which provides a more upbeat atmosphere. The chorus lyrics consisting of "You Didn't See Me Coming, No But You Can Watch Me Go" are catchy and good for any jam. While the themes are still there, it looks at them with a more positive view. It’s liberating, celebrating who you are and not dwelling too much on past mistakes. When gambling with the devil, things go awry, but it’s never too late to start anew. In contrast, Is Anybody Out There is treading the ground for all the yearners out there who haven’t found someone yet, but still feel that desperate call to be with somebody. Using familiar imagery of older songs, like the broadcasting we know from their project Alive from Whispering Pines, it treads known waters in new ways. One can imagine themselves sitting alone at night in a dark radio studio, just calling out to anybody that might listen.
The second song to feature another artist is the Fire Eternal, being a collaboration between the band and relatively unknown indie-dreampop artist Kazu Makino. It offers a fairly unique sound, blending the dreampop aesthetic with the more folksy aspects Lord Huron is known for. It also shows the band's commitment to heralding smaller artists, as they did back with I Lied and Allison Ponthier. The album ends with the five-minute track Life is Strange, a rather absurdist and existentialist piece of art that perfectly encapsulates the journey, the album just took us on. "Well, do what you must, In the end we all turn to dust, And I'll stay forever right here if you want me to" are the ideal lyrics to close out this truly transformative album.
Even though I did not discuss It All Comes Back, Used To Know and Digging Up the Past, be assured that they are as phenomenal as the rest. With The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, Lord Huron delivers a truly transcendent piece of art with no skips, but all the more feelings. It’s a culmination of all the past works and their themes, ever since they released their first EP Into the Sun (even though that more grand sound with a choir feel does not appear on the album). Whether or not we’ll ever get Vol. 2 stands in the stars, but for now, the wait was more than worth it. If you love experimental albums with a core concept as well as different perspectives, this album is for you. It’s already one of my favorites of this year!
REVIEW & PHOTO BY
Lars
Being brought up under deaf parents, as a partially hearing child, I have always struggeled with my search of identity. Inspired by far-distant worlds like middle earth and the tunes of Lord Huron, my goal is not only to tell great stories, but also to understand other people and their tales.
