Connecticut group Landing celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, but showing no signs of losing creative momentum. On the contrary, Bells in New Towns, their second album for El Paraiso Records, is arguably their finest, most cohesive effort to date. The group's sound has always been multi-textured, alluding to many different genres at once. There's the heavy oscillating drones and the fuzzy, motoric psychedelia, the lush ambient soundscapes and shimmering, dreamy vibes - all tied together by that characteristic sense of fluid progression. Bells in New Towns could be described as their most grounded, earthy sounding release so far. On this record the ethereal components of their sound are firmly anchored by a tight, steady low-end – certainly due to the fact that the album was partly recorded by seasoned New England rock producer Justin Pizzoferrato (Dinosaur Jr., Elder, Pixies, Sonic Youth). Much like their spiritual kins in Yo La Tengo and Bardo Pond, Landing have eclectically picked their influences from a wide range of musical eras and cultures. The result is an electric music that speaks to the mind as well as the senses.
