Vancouver psych rock outfit Meltt’s third release Pathways is lush: swooshing synths, hazy guitars, breezy vocals, you name it.
On the leading track “One Life,” the band takes its core sound and does something unique and exciting with it. Lead vocalist Chris Smith’s words could have been sung in just about any language, and they would still be as spellbinding. Jamie Turner’s drums have a special rhythmic force, where his rhythm is as captivating as the intensity of his drumming.
Similarly, on “Never Let Go,” the chorus is heavenly and tender, and the music has a wonderfully crafted lushness. “The Huntsman” balances the group’s airy sound with a razor-edged guitar hook and a punchy musical crescendo, which ends the song with a bang. “Goodbye” has an expansive sound with delightful steel guitar accents that seem fortuitous but well-placed, and just a lot of satisfying guitars overall. The same goes with “Monomyth,” where it is totally gratifying getting lost within the layers of its musical lavishness.
On the other hand, on songs that have just generic writing and composition, the innate pleasantness in the group’s sound actually works against them; ergo, tracks like “In Your Arms,” “Hesitate,” and “By Your Side,” which sound airy without any substance within. Strangely enough, when the band strips away its musical layers on a song with the same generic triteness, you get “In Good Time,” whose sheer simplicity is absolutely delightful. Besides, the folksy steel guitars certainly enhance the charm factor of this modest number.
Given that so much of the music on Pathways simply relies on creating delicate layers, the most essential ingredient in making this album enjoyable is its production and mixing. More than anything, the most crucial role that Meltt have played on this self-produced record, is that of the producer. Despite some really good songwriting and performance, they have excelled the most in their producer’s role, the effortlessness of which is as smooth as their music.
