Absolutely Free's self-titled debut recently turned three with little sign of a followup, but as the band assured the crowd last night at Casa del Popolo, LP2 is right around the corner. Playing material from the upcoming record — scheduled for release early next year — it showed that Absolutely Free aren't switching it up too much: drummer Moshe Rozenberg still busts out drum fills at a moment's notice and Matt King's vocals are as airy and ethereal as ever, but the new tracks continue their penchant for sonic exploration.
But it was the older cuts — "Beneath the Air" and "Vision's," both from the self-titled album — that found the band at their best, with their bountiful hooks and airtight delivery, having been extensively road-tested and fine-tuned in the years since the album's release. With the new songs in the same vein, it's clear that Absolutely Free is in it for the long haul, preferring to tinker and hone their ideas instead of simply spill them out. It's worked for them so far, and looks like it will continue to as the new record arrives.
But it was the older cuts — "Beneath the Air" and "Vision's," both from the self-titled album — that found the band at their best, with their bountiful hooks and airtight delivery, having been extensively road-tested and fine-tuned in the years since the album's release. With the new songs in the same vein, it's clear that Absolutely Free is in it for the long haul, preferring to tinker and hone their ideas instead of simply spill them out. It's worked for them so far, and looks like it will continue to as the new record arrives.