REVIEW: Second to Safety - 'Esther'
Pittsburgh has often been the backdrop for some of America’s best success stories. From the beginning of the steel industry to breakthroughs in modern medicine. For western Pennsylvania, it’s an area that holds so much promise, yet the ghost of its troubled past still hum its way into the present. While progressive in some ways, it remains unchanged in the next. Within this little contradicting and rather complex vicinity of the world, an art-punk band Second to Safety takes these characteristics from where they live and have effortlessly painted them into their debut LP Esther via Solid 9 Records.
From the beginning “Signs of Life” beautifully transports us into an immersive world of cinematic atmosphere and “S” class delivery of instrumentals. Blending delicate math structures with punchy punk elements, it’s an impressive start to the LP that gives excitement to what movements will follow on this magnificently written musical experience.
While most of Esther stays within these elements, other junctures such as “Monochopsis” are a completely different animal from the rest of its LP counterparts. With its bluesy overtones and subdued percussive elements, it’s a welcomed denuded change within our listening experience of Esther before we are taken back to familiar pastures with “August”.
However, as quickly as we have returned, we are greeted with pleasantly unfamiliar track experiences like “Alone”. Another satisfying soundscape for our audio senses to retire in, its lullaby-like instrumental atmosphere along with perfectly crafted lyricism speaks volumes to this band’s grasp of organic creativity before coming back above ground to frenetic and infectious “To Be Beautiful”.
There aren’t enough words to properly describe what Second to Safety has accomplished with Esther. From start to finish it doesn’t label its self to any structures traditionally found in punk rock music in the modern era. It is a work of art that truly needs a few moments out of your day to lose yourself within it majesty. A concept record that delves into finding hope and purpose in a vastly complicated world ,Esther delivers a multiverse of sounds and expansive lyrical content that will consistently deliver something different with each and every listening experience.
You can listen to Second to Safety’s debut LP Esther on Spotify or any other music streaming service.