Auburn Lull

Originally released on ethereal/space rock label Burnt Hair and long out of print, this wonderful piece of classic shoe-gazing has thankfully been resurrected and made more widely available. Alone I Admire is a great companion to seminal albums like Slowdive’s Just For A Day, in that it incorporates waves of processed guitars, strings, brushed drums and breathy vocals, courtesy of Sean Heenan. With the overall guitar-based sound drenched in reverb and delay, Auburn Lull would make excellent poster children for Roland effects pedals. Hailing from the unlikely dream pop hub of Southeast Michigan, Auburn Lull understandably features three guitarists and a drummer, with production duties handled by long-time collaborator Andrew Prinz, from the band Mahogany, another Michigan group who must have heartily supported the 4AD and Creation Records catalogues. Although it’s not depressing or disheartening, much of Alone I Admire is predictably melancholic in nature; a natural result of minor chords and slow cello accompaniments. Still, there are lengthy moments of sonic beauty on this album, like "Between Trains” or "The Last Beat,” which seem to float on air, as if Brian Eno himself was secretly controlling your universe. Such a scenario may either frighten you or comfort you. If you think you’re in the latter camp, Auburn Lull will not disappoint.