REVIEWER MAG
cd reviews - April 30, 2010
Kent Manthie
Dark Matter
ReviewerMag.com

The Lost Patrol
Dark Matter
Self-Released, 2010

On the follow up to their debut CD from last year, The Lost Patrol come at us with this bliss-out of a CD, Dark Matter, an agreeable CD to say the least, no sophomore slump here – it looks like they probably played some shows around and then got back to work as soon as they could in order to keep the continuity going. Some bands, who I won’t mention here, have released phenomenal debuts and then rested on their laurels but by the time their follow-up finally came out it was like – who? – in this biz you have to be as relevant as possible because all sorts of soundz are going to come out of the woodwork during that time you’re not being creative.

On this slick, candle-lit dinner of a CD, The Lost Patrol, fronted by a singer with a very potent set of lungs: Mollie Israel who is part of a trio that also includes Stephen Masucci on the guitar, bass, the Omnichord and “programming” and rounding them out is Michael Williams, who adds his touch with the 12-string guitar.

The CD has an array of sweetness and light, but backed with a pronounced bass presence and a good drummer. The tight beats keep the music from turning into a mass of ether and floating away.
Songs like “Lay In Wait” and “In Your Blood” show off their “pop” side while others like “Justine”, “Calling Your Own Name” and “These Days” delve into the more moody aspect of them, the latter three are more slowed-down, atmospheric and melancholy. The songs are all credited to “The Lost Patrol” not to any one band member, which shows that it is a real collaborative effort.

Maybe it’s the way the CD’s been self-produced & released that gives the disc that certain “edge” that is just this side of raw, but polished up as best they can. For doing it their way on their own, Dark Matter has turned out to be a success. It’s got a diverse bunch of smooth tunes. Some chill-out, quasi-ballad-esque songs, melancholy laments, plus more upbeat, almost pop stuff that shines at its best, like “Calling Your Own Name” or “Play Me For a Fool”.

It’s hard to pin The Lost Patrol down because they’re all over the place. Of course, it’s always under “Rock” at stores or online shopping, but as for subgenre, you can’t say they’re “post-this” or “neo-that” and I don’t really know anyone I could compare them to except for maybe the Cowboy Junkies but at a faster pace and with more laissez-faire as well, musically, that is. It’s really just a good indie rock CD that isn’t too long and has originality as well as spirit in its eleven tracks. Let’s just hope that they keep on releasing CD after CD of this unique spirit of music.

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