IN REVIEW: Wintersleep - "In the Land of"

Over the course of their first six albums, Wintersleep have risen from earnest Maritime upstarts to become one of Canada's most dependable bands and somewhat of a revered export, earning a growing following in the U.S. and Europe. That they've done so without surrendering their identity or steering their core sound into the mainstream is a minor miracle in these modern times where bands are encouraged to bend to the will of taste makers and corporate interests.

Their seventh record firmly upholds their status as one of the nation's most exploratory and consistent bands; In the Land of finds them not only stretching their sound toward experimental new territory, but also taking the time to reflect on their roots. Forest Fire, for example, lilts along a pleasant piano-led melody while employing multi-tracked vocals and lush harmonies, making for one of the band's most beautiful songs. The Lighthouse, meanwhile, is both a lyrical and musical throwback to some of Wintersleep's scrappiest early material.

Where In the Land of becomes truly thrilling is on a trio of tunes that push the band's boundaries. Lead single Beneficiary uses skittering electronic percussion and a thick groove to hook the listener, which is very tricky considering the song's subject matter (it addresses our past and current mistreatment of indigenous peoples). Into the Shape of Your Heart rides a lazy, summery groove through its love struck tale of diving into a relationship, and it's one of the album's most immediate and emotionally powerful moments. Then, there's Never Let You Go, a song which employs a similar bait-and-switch to Beneficiary in that it tucks its environmentally conscious message inside one of the jauntiest, upbeat singalongs they've ever penned.

The only thing that really brings In the Land of down a notch for me is its silly, overdrawn closing track Free Pour, which paints the band as some kind of kitschy electro-lounge act and features a rather flat, one-note delivery that stretches itself beyond the five minute mark. It's not the most egregious failed experiment ever put to wax but, as an album closer it ends things on a decidedly sour note. That spot would have been better utilized by Free Fall, a fiery and experimental track that was left off the album but sounds more akin to the motif of the album.

All in all, though, In the Land of is yet another in a long line of winning albums by a band that, even though they seem to get more praise, success and respect with each passing record, deserves so much more than they ever seem to get.

March 29, 2019 • Dine Alone
Highlights Beneficiary • Into the Shape of Your Heart • Never Let You Go