Alaska in Winter – Dance Party in the Balkans

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAq6VIjak-8]

There is something about the under-produced, under-programmed simplicity of the drum machine on Alaska in Winter‘s new album that leaves it feeling unfinished, and lends a tremendous feeling of uneasiness to the lush production of the rest of the record. The vocals, at times annoyingly reminiscent of My Computer’s Vulnerability, with their dense layering, and heavy manipulation away from the natural further add to the tension, as do the childish, often meaningless lyrics.

This tension is counterpointed by the confident use of brass and piano, lifting the album above itself, giving a sense of cohesion and mild euphoria. The periodic, startling use of trumpet brilliantly highlights and alleviates the tension.

This is a careful, self indulgent and self confident album, meditative in places and often brilliant.