The Exodus of Gravity (Relapse Records) is the follow-up to Arcadea’s 2017 debut. Brann Dailor is still handling the drums and vocals, with Core Atoms returning to handle the bulk of the synth duties. At the same time, they are also joined by Mastodon‘s current touring keyboardist João Nogueira, adding to the layers of prog unfolding here. There is less of a synth wave feel this time around. His drumming is more aggressive. He piles on layers of vocal overdubs to try things he does not normally explore with his day job. The title track would feel more like current-day Mastodon if the synths were replaced by guitars. “Fuzzy Planet’ is the lead single and the best of the first three songs, as it takes things in a more new wave, Gary Numan direction, while applying some funky grooves. This sets the project apart as a more distinct entity. 

“Lake of Rust” has more drive in its stomping without wanting to look back in the direction of his other band, Brann’s vocals have a little more of a rock feel to them. “Gilded Eye” turns into almost more of a jam that captures an authentic seventies prog feel, without the flutes and Hammond organs, though the hooks are not laser-focused.  Dailor’s drumming is what you want from him, yet his maturation as a player allows him to use restraint rather than pile on bombastic performances he is known for. “2 Shells” has more of a groove while toying with space-age sounds. His vocals ride the beat. So far, the heavier groovin’ “Galactic Lighthouse” is my favorite song. Though it’s clear his day job has influenced the way he hears melodies in his head. 

“Starry Messenger” finds the lamb finally lying down on Broadway and Dailor getting to indulge in the kind of full-on prog that he listens to in his spare time. The main focus becomes the drums racing alongside the synths as the vocals provide an accompanying, coasting ambiance. I do like the magnitude of weirdness that unfolds on this one. What is more prog than keyboard solos? They hit a better stride as songwriters on “Silent Spores” to find that place prog bands hit in the eighties when they collided with new wave. They do go on the weird side, but it is well-balanced here. 

They indulge their prog side in a more energetic yet grandiose fashion, his drumming speed off to chase the comet at the core of this song. “Sparks” is another weird one. They shift the way they mixed this one to fuck with your ears. It finds them in the tug of war I often lament over where bands have to decide between making cool sounds are writing cool songs, and they find a decent compromise more often than not.  The last song, “Planet Pounder,”  goes off into a neon hyperspace. His voice locks into a contemplative croon. It is marginally darker, though, as a general rule, this album is more like the sonic equivalent of an Adult Swim cartoon, and not brooding. This album might take a few listens to grow on you, but if you are stepping up your drug intake and in need of something weirder and more grooving than the Masto Dudes, this is for you. 

Buy the album here:
https://www.relapse.com/pages/arcadea-the-exodus-of-gravity

8 / 10
WIL CIFER
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