Other Lives is comprised of Josh Onstott, Jonathon Mooney and Jesse Tabish. Rituals is a pure encapsulation of the band's relentless drive for precision. The trio relocated to Portland, Oregon from their hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma to record the album. Tabish says the relocation had a direct influence that can be heard through Rituals. "There was a spirit of change," Tabish offers. "We had done [2011's second LP] Tamer Animals, which was very close to us and about our home. So the next record was about the spontaneity of travel and being isolated. For the first times in our lives we were moving off on our own away from our families and kind of coming into our own. I wanted the songs to reflect that new spirit." "This one was a real journey," Tabish says of the 18 months spent writing more than 60 songs for Rituals, a constant creative outlet for the relentless sonic architect amid a rigorous few years of touring their debut album. "It was a long time spent searching for a new identity," the soft-spoken singer continues of the writing process, "still trying to retain the past of our musical palate but also really trying to stretch ourselves into a new type of music." The album was produced by Mooney, Tabish and Joey Waronker (Eels, Atoms for Peace, Beck, etc.). While Rituals marks a new chapter in Other Lives' story, it's also a continuation of a decade-plus passage. "I feel really lucky to be able to have a band and people around me that have been so supportive and we've stuck together all these years and still don't hate each other," Tabish says. "All three of us are like brothers. I don't think that will ever go away. I loved those kids then and I love them now. There's that mutual feeling. If I want to go have a beer with anyone it would be those two guys. That kind of says something."
S**W
Worth a punt.
I took a bit of a punt on this one after hearing "Easy Way Out" on Guy Garvey's Radio 6 show. My punt has paid off! This is a great album full of wonderful music which leaves me wondering why I'd never heard of the band.
C**R
Four Stars
Good album.
M**D
Great tracks!
This is a great followup album to Tamer Animals. Put on your headset, sit back, relax and enjoy!
L**W
Four Stars
Great
S**D
Five Stars
Great CD!!!! Gonna buy the rest of theirs now.
S**F
Almost
It's good, but just lacking that extra something melancholy and special that attracts me to this band.
L**O
Rituals is full of songs that will transport you to another place
First off, I must declare that I am a big fan of Other Lives. Ever since discovering 'Tamer Animals', I've been looking forward to their next release. It's been a long gestation period but here, at last, is the release. For me, it's everything I'd hoped it would be. In the lead up to the album, Other Lives had told us that this would be a change of direction from their previous two albums - more electronic. Whilst this is true, Jesse and colleagues have preserved the essence of Other Lives: deep, meaningful lyrics and a complex, layered and crafted sound using both electronic and acoustic instruments. As with previous albums, you won't find many 'Shiny happy people', feel good songs on Rituals. What you will find is songs that will transport you to another place. Some of the music press have unfairly called this something of a Radiohead 'listen likey' album. Sure, Other Lives have toured with and derived ideas from Thom and Co. But 'Rituals' is so much more than that. The influences are many and the originality is clear to all those who listen with an open ear. Listen and enjoy!!!
D**W
Curved vinyl
The packaging wasn't right, it was to big and wasn't secure enough to make sure the vinyl was safe, when I opened the box and got the vinyl out the sleeve and case looked good, so I took the vinyl out and it was wonky and didn't play right, it was curved in the middle so I could only play oneside of the record, I don't think I am going to buy any records off here for a while
Trustpilot
5 days ago
2 weeks ago
