The inclusion (and prime placement) of “The Night We Met” in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why saw Lord Huron’s fanbase explode almost overnight, and Vide Noir, their third full-length album, will please longtime fans and give newcomers something supple to absorb. An overarching concept is woven into the dense and expansive sonic world of Vide Noir (French for ‘black void’), with its narrator relaying a tale of loss, longing, obsession and dark thoughts that kick off with the nihilistic opener “Lost In Time And Space” and don’t let up for the duration. The album was mixed by Dave Fridmann, whose work on adventurous records by Tame Impala, Flaming Lips and his own band Mercury Rev have set a new sonic standard for rock long players. Ben Schneider’s poignant songwriting coupled with Fridmann’s expert hand on the mixing board give these songs relentless replay value on turntables and festival stages this summer: warm, articulate vocals, crunchy drums and throbbing bass, with the band’s signature sepia-tinted atmosphere trickling through the cracks. Double vinyl pressing housed in gatefold sleeve.

• double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Republic Records 2018

reviewed by big dumb man 04/2018