AMG Review of Home Acres

Jason Lymangrover
All Music Guide

Thirteen years and going strong, Aloha deliver another atmospheric, percussive, post-rock record in the vein of classic Thrill Jockey artists (particularly Sea and Cake) that balances mathematical playing and subdued, dreamy soundscapes. Operating from four separate area codes (Washington DC, Brooklyn, Boston, and Cleveland), the four members wrote Home Acres by using a private-band blog over the course of three years before reuniting to record the album. Surviving distance and some roster shifts, the group still sounds like a tight-knit unit. The vibraphones have been toned back, and the songs are along the lines of their last outing, Light Works, in a toned-back indie pop style that sounds a little like latter-day Death Cab for Cutie or Built to Spill. “Searchlight” screams mainstream, with a big, sweetly exhaled chorus about craving good days and sunshine, but most of the other songs aren’t as overtly hooky, and focus more closely on the art of syncopation without being showy. Multi-instrumentalist T.J. Lipple does a nice job filling the gaps without overwhelming the mix, while the rhythm section zig-zags smoothly behind Tony Cavallario's crystalline vocals. Home Acres never breaks any new barriers and it's less cerebral than earlier outings, but it’s a good, consistent listen that showcases the band in their comfort zone.