Ester Drang - Infinite Keys

Existing in a quiet, soft realm in the world of rock, Ester Drang captures somber feeling and downcast tone rather than a guitar chord or a legible lyric. But when you exercise the terrain between the Flaming Lips and Mogwai, the essence of emotional feeling in vague sound is much more important than how you arrive at that feeling through specific instruments. Which is probably why on Infinite Keys, Ester Drang’s sophomore album and first disc for indie-rock purveyors Jade Tree Records, this Oklahoma four-piece design their space-rock universe with equal use of keyboards, guitars, synthesizers, drums, pianos, strings and vocals. But their sound is distinctly less epic and touching than their fellow Scotsman and lacking the psych-pop sensibilities that ascend Wayne Coyne and Co. to greatness. It’s also to their misfortune that they slide Infinite Keys’ best cut – “Temple Mount” – up as the opening tune. Leaving the listener on a gradual descending musical journey that looses interest and ultimately glides through ears just as gently and unnoticed as Ester Drang’s Oklahoman wind, Infinite Keys is a decent album of poppy post-rock, but not much more. This is a disc you could never hate – but then again, I would find it very hard to ever emphatically love. [www.esterdrang.com]