Eightfourseven – Lossless – Review

Release Date: June 22nd, 2010
Record Label: Minus Head Records
Genre: Electronica Rock

Look at the alternative rock scene and glaring back at you would be a body of music colored with diversity and unusual sound. Eightfourseven’s latest album Lossless is no exception. Releasing on June 22nd, Lossless is a good example of the progress the band has made since their arrival onto the Sacramento scene in 2002. In 2002 Eightfourseven released their first work, an EP by the name of Everlasting, which had a strong alternative vibe accompanied by a less pronounced electronic feel. The Allegiance was the bands first LP, released in 2004. Although progress had been made in the two years between releases, the most striking similarity between the two albums was how segmented the electronic aspects of each album were from the rest of their music.

This all changed with the subsequent release of Silent Raid in 2006, the band’s third release and second EP. During the production of this album Eightfourseven worked with Eric Stenman, a producer and mixer who has worked with other bands such as Senses Fail, Thrice and Tinfed. The band credits Stenman with helping them find a balance between the rock and the electronic aspects of their songs. Stenman’s influence on the blending of electronic elements into Eightfourseven’s music is evident in Silent Raid and consequently gave the album a fuller more collected sound. Thankfully this fullness transferred over to the band’s latest work, Lossless.

Eightfourseven’s current mixture of electronic synth, alternating smooth to rough guitar riffs, and melodic drums can be downright powerful on certain tracks. The atmosphere created in many songs can envelop the listener into an almost hypnotic trance, only to be shattered moments later by authoritative drums and coarse guitar. Described as alternative rock mixed with electronic elements, in many songs the band could be classified as a form of New Rave. Although their unique sound puts them on the cusp of a few different genres, it still seems somehow unpolished. This could be due, in part, to the noncommittal feel that the vocals occasionally project. A feeling that, when present, is fleeting. Apart from of their occasionally hollow vocals, the bands blended musical style is effective in wrapping the listener in a pleasantly harmonious cadence of ambient synth sound and silky guitar riffs.

As a whole the band seems to still be a work in progress. A work which, despite their modest discography, has developed in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Regardless of the small inadequacies their music may have at times, they have an interesting and emotionally evoking sound that suggests greater things in their future. This may be a band to look out for in the next few years. ~Peter Grapentien

Score: 3/5

Track Listing:
1. Phantom Limb
2. Vital vs Viral (Private Los Angeles) 
3. Chibana 
4. Youth Erratic 
5. 8 Armed Baby 
6. Claire 
7. Recover In Circles
8. Sleeping Dragons 
9. Lossless 
10. Mirror Box