Death by landscape - W​hiskey and transparency

Death by landscape

W​hiskey and transparency
self-released; 2017

3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Tyler Whelpton aka Death by landscape just released his first album entitled Whiskey and Transparency. It’s a complete lo-fi DIY effort that contains a mixed batch of tones and flavors. Call it art rock, indie rock or what you will, the songs are atmospheric and often emotionally resonant.

The album opens with “Nodus Tollens” which revolves around jangly guitars, a simple beat and vocals. I have to admit I wasn’t crazy about the drum sound which sounded like a preset but I thought the vocal melodies were unique and carried the song.

​Another point on the drums was he  did try to change it up with what you might call a frantic beat. The second song “Disconnect” was a solid song. I thought the mixing was improved here and the way he layered the vocal harmonies and guitar worked really well.

A clear highlight was “Saint Lawrence River Blues”. His voice really shines here amongst an atmosphere of piano, synths and guitar. It's one of the most powerful songs that hits upon your emotional strings.

“Militant Doves” had a forward moving momentum as well as engaging guitar parts. As the album progressed I found myself attracted to the atmospheric songs that felt cerebral and ethereal. “Heart of Lead,” “Ellipsism” and the title track were the ones I had on repeat.

The mixing is varied throughout the album. Some songs clearly sound better mixed to my ears and that's food for thought on his next release. A little more consistency would make for a smoother experience.

Overall, this is a solid first effort and at the very least builds a foundation to work off of.

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