Ester Drang is a four-piece band out of Oklahoma. Infinite Keys is its first record on Jadetree Records. Ester Drang appeals strongly to fans of atmospheric rock bands like Radiohead. With falsetto vocals and plenty of keyboard, they lure listeners into another world of existence.
Infinite Keys is probably the best Ester Drang release to date. "Oceans of You," "One Hundred Times," "The Greatest Thing," and "No One Could Ever Take Your Face" are among Ester Drang's best songs on the nine-song album.
Also encouraging is the hope in Ester Drang's music. "The Greatest Thing" says:
You came down as a man
With your purpose as your plan
All to save the hearts of men.
"All This Feeling" says,
All this feeling with no meaning
All this pleasure
Has left you empty.
Yes the savior only fills.
An obstacle for listeners may be the long and lethargic {songs that} test the audience's patience. But patience pays off for fans of Ester Drang. Infinite Keys may take its sweet time drawing listeners in with its subtle hooks, but the album only gets better with each listen.
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Other coverage for this album
Decapolis May 2003Reviewed by Brett Miotti"Infinite Keys" is the first release for the Oklahoma based Ester Drang on Jade Tree Records. Prior to working with Jade Tree the band released a full-length (Goldenwest) with Philly based label Burnt Toast Vinyl. The band is currently on tour with labelmates Pedro the Lion. It's about time this band have gotten some more attention in the indie rock world. A friend had recommended that I check…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Trae CadenheadEster Drang has a sound all its own. Walls of atmosphere accentuate a lush organic musical landscape. The music is complex in its arrangement, yet the listener can also take a step back and appreciate the full beauty of all the instrumentation combined. The foundation is laid with guitar, bass, and drums, but piano and synthesizers are also essential to the thick atmosphere. The music is strong…Opus 2003Reviewed by Jason MoreheadEster Drang's previous album, Goldenwest, began with a glorious cascade of glassy piano notes and shimmering drones. Sounding like the perfect blend of Steve Reich and Spiritualized, it easily set the mood for an album that delivered one sonic bliss after another. Compare that with the opening minutes of Infinite Keys, with its alien squall of metallic feedback and harrowing strings, and the…Similar sounding releases
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