Score: 2.5/5
The alternative indie rock group The Velvet Teen from Sonoma County, California, released its first album in nine years titled “All Is Illusory.”
The band originally started in 1999 as vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Judah Nagler’s electronic solo project. The Velvet Teen developed from there with added members and currently stands as a three-piece with drummer Casey Dietz and bassist/vocalist Josh Staples.
The group identifies as an, “international shapeshifting band of mystery, studying the esoteric arts for 15 years running,” on its official Facebook page, and that’s one of the first abstract self-descriptions I’ve seen proved to be true.
“All Is Illusory” boldly covers most grounds of the rock realm and touches on a variety of moods in a way that is simultaneously amicable and subdued, however, most of the new sounds being tested are kept within only one or two songs per experiment.
In its first four tracks, the album breaks out high energy in different styles.
“Sonreo” introduces the album and meets the recent folk pop craze with other traces of indie rock and synth pop.
“Eclipses” switches to more of a pop punk sound with fast-paced dance beats and shares an upbeat mood with the electronic “Pecos” and its additional playful vocals.
Synthesized vocals wash over the calming track “The Manifest” and extract an electronic-rock strain from the album.
The four tracks that follow include more instrumental moments that blend together somewhat monotonously for a slow alternative sound. “The Giving In” is one of these tracks that starts with strong enthusiasm to transition out of the low title track but fades out halfway through the song.
The album makes a comeback after the quiet sound with “You Were the First” – a quick, animated number – then sits back down for the last two tracks.
Although “All Is Illusory” doesn’t position itself as one collective piece, The Velvet Teen’s return is still worth noticing. The album’s range and depth illustrates a maturity the band formed over nine years’ time.