Los Angeles-based act Analog Party return in riveting form on their new EP Exhibit A, which unleashes a dynamic sound — from grungy rock anthemics to moodier introspection. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Animaan Pathak pairs these riveting soundscapes with thematic ruminations on navigating life in adulthood. “This collection of songs is a raw diary of my mid-twenties, reflecting both the personal and existential disorder in my life over the last few years,” he says. “Lyrically, I think a lot of people, younger or older, will be able to relate to the heavy emotions expressed in these songs.”
While primarily the solo project of Pathak, the EP also features notable contributions from Matt McJunkins (A Perfect Circle, Poppy) and Charles Horin (Post Profit). Exhibit A comes off the heels of a two-year hiatus for the project, and quickly impresses with its opening title track. “As the world unravels, feels like we’re out of time,” Pathak’s vocals lament, building with invigorating qualities; fuzzy guitars and sporadic backing vocal reflections traverse into a sweltering “moving closer” momentum in the hard-rocking hook. Frantic percussion at mid-point stirs into a delectably twangy guitar outpouring, showcasing the act’s knack for consuming tonal shifts as well.
The ensuing “Deliria” builds with a simmering, climactic rock appeal as vocals ruminate on beating the odds and aspiring to fantasies breaking down. A ghostly guitar-driven sequence rounds the two-minute turn with particularly riveting qualities. Also succeeding, “Snake Oil” stirs with a ’90s throwback energy — seamlessly alternating between grungy “maybe just another day” introspection, with raucous guitar ferocity, and jangling intrigue across the book-ending verses. The memorable track also has an upcoming animated lyric video, releasing on June 13th.
“Replica” follows with further immersion, dazzling across both acoustic-laden dreaminess and rousing rock heights, and reminding of the aforementioned A Perfect Circle in its moody, dynamic structural traversal. Capped off by the emotive “Can I With You?” and its enveloping title-touting refrain, Exhibit A is a gripping success of an EP from Analog Party.
Check out the project’s first show back in Los Angeles in two years, at Harvard & Stone on Saturday, June 21st.
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