Absence (Bonus Track Version)

Absence is the debut full-length release from Paper Route, an ambitious Nashville-based electronic pop quartet. The band is aiming for a grand statement, and while they don't always hit that mark, there’s a lot here to absorb and enjoy. Overall, it sounds like they recorded acoustic instruments and then reassembled the pieces into new creations that are heavy on atmosphere and shimmering textures, with a good middle ground achieved between the synths and the electric guitar. The songs are lushly orchestrated and dynamic, with many samples, beats, and ambient sounds mixed into the whole. Arena-ready anthems like “Wish” and “Carousel” are set against cinematic tunes like “No Sudden Revelations” and “Lover’s Anthem” to give the album balance. Vocally, the harmonies are good with their moody melodies often delivered in an emotional and earnest falsetto. Fans of Snow Patrol, Coldplay, the Postal Service, and the like will easily fall for Paper Route’s brand of dramatic, dreamy electro pop.