Boston’s Lost in the Trees cleverly constructs an array of lively combinations of strings, samples, and hand percussion. Short but sweet, the chamber pop on Time Taunts Me (Trekky Records) is playful and pensive, engaging the listener with its careful orchestrations and minimalist acoustic guitar.
Ari Jacobsen Picker’s pleasant, thin vocals don’t match the depth or range of the music at first, but they fit perfectly with the fragility of the lyrics. However, the music lends itself to more moods and places than Picker’s voice can take it. A second lead vocalist could help the band explore new territory and expand on the breadth of their current material.
The themes and metaphors (the passing of time, the changing of seasons) sound superficial rather than probing. By the end of the album, the clichés are tearfully boring.
Lyrics aside, there are a number of memorable tunes like “Lost in the Snow,” the instrumental “I’ve Always Loved Fall,” and the circus-like “For Elizabeth and John.” All signs show that if Lost in the Trees stopped over-intellectualizing and let their music breathe, they would deliver a better product.
– Jamie Ludwig
Lost in the Trees (Trekky Records)