Lyndhurst - Caves

A Closer Listen

Last July, new duo Lyndhurst impressed us right out the gate with their debut EP Platforms.. That release would eventually land on our year-end Electronic list.  In many ways, their follow-up EP is even better; they are swiftly becoming one of our favorite new acts.

In terms of music, Lyndhurst has a public face and a private face, although it’s hard to hide a private face on an EP.  The public face is their sprightly, perky side, best represented by their early singles: “Swimming” on Platforms and “Holiday Inn” on Caves.  Each is instantly catchy, with immense crossover potential.  “Holiday Inn” builds upon a simple lattice, adding more elements until it is decorated with percussion, virtually inviting the listener to dance.

Caves has a much smoother flow than Platforms.  This makes the EP seem more uniform, even though it contains just as much variety as its predecessor.  Sparkling opener “Distraction Loop” refracts light in all directions, like a prism in a sunbeam.  “Clay Tablet” contains tendrils of library music, the genre that nurtured the duo before their debut.  But the bigger surprise is a plunge into the post-rock sea. “International Headmaster” would be an outlier if it weren’t so well integrated.  In the same manner as “Lit Up” hinted at a new direction for Public Service Broadcasting back in 2013 ~ a path never chosen ~ “International Headmaster” suggests that Lyndhurst may be much more than “just” an electronic duo, but an act with larger, and very achievable ambitions.  The track is a slow, glorious march, regal as a coronation, setting the stage for “Virtual Boy,” which mimics its tempo yet changes the tone again, adding a brass nightcap.

Lyndhurst has already proven a few things.  The duo is not content to rest within a single genre, and cannot be pigeonholed.  They are growing by leaps and bounds.  And most importantly, we cannot predict the direction in which they will go.  This is a huge asset for a younger act, as it creates a sense of anticipation; what will they do next?  Will there be another EP drop in six months, or are they building up to an album?  Is there a limit to how many genres they can integrate without showing the seams?  We’re eager to find out.  (Richard Allen)