Though these three Canadians have only been Close Talker since 2012 (they were originally a quartet), Lens is already their third album. Friends since childhood, Will Quiring, Matthew Kopperud, and Christopher Morien present a mature version of varied, cultured pop sounds that hit a career high here, relying on lush grooves and sprawling indie rock with a healthy addition of synth.
“All Of Us” starts the album off with ambient noise that breaks into a moody and richly textured song that’s as mysterious as the subject matter of taboo love. “Reptiles” picks the pace up into more dance friendly territory with a memorable synth riff that transitions pleasantly into the atmospheric and dreamy-pop of “Brothers,” which is one of the best songs here. “Okay Hollywood” is a busy rocker that has its sights set on arena rock, though the band then quickly retreats to the subdued “Afterthought.”
The second half of the album leads with the bold, powerful “Waking Up,” one of the most forceful songs on the listen. A couple of the most ominous tunes follow: “Hold Up, Rewind” is groove-filled with late night contemplation, and “So What?” is breathy, soulful, and ideal for just mulling things over. The disc ends with playful exploration, bringing in the spacey, lounge feel of “Figure Eights” as well as the closer “Seasonal Friends,” where a hazy, dreamy six minutes serves as a fitting conclusion.
Lens is a tough album to put a finger on. On one hand, it’s wonderfully layered with imaginative rhythms and strong, diverse musicianship. However, on the other hand, one can’t help but think that the band is still capable of doing better, as the songs are good – really good in some cases – but don’t quite attain the greatness that will probably be present on their next album. File this one under thinking person’s rock, and prepare for their worldwide fame next time.
