In Letter Form - explorations of Unknown Destinations

In Letter Form

Explorations of Unknown Destinations 
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

The future, intangible love and the human experience – these are just a few of the themes you’ll discover with San Francisco natives In Letter Form. This band is hard at work with their second album already and they’ve just begun to celebrate their first entitled Explorations of Unknown Destinations with scheduled tours. They’ve enjoyed many shows and successful residencies in the great clubs of Hollywood, but their biggest break came in October of 2013, opening for Modern English to a sold-out crowd in their hometown.

If you have a lust for the 80’s like these guys do, you’re going to love this album. It sings beautifully and reflects the group’s knowledge and skill of layering and production. Somehow they’ve geared their sound to be a cross breed of The Cure and The Human League, but with very stately and ominous vocals a la David Bowie. The music is always contemplative whether bright and danceable or the burdened drone of late 80’s industrial. The synths are entrancing and very integral to the otherworldly effect that permeates throughout Explorations of Unknown Destinations. Some bands take pride in putting on a great show; others obsess in the studio - In Letter Form do both and that is such a rare trait. If you enjoy the songs digitally, you'll be amazed when you stand in front of that stage and hear it through the air around you. I would the chance to attend a show myself. 

In addition to seven new songs, three songs from the band's first EP release have been re-recorded and placed within Explorations of Unknown Destinations. The first cuts have been given plump production and the instruments are performed with much more edge than the latter making them fit exquisitely with the new material and exude their live show presence. "End Times" is raw and aggressive with an alluring bass line and memorable chorus. The entire album has catchy rhythms and tasteful melodies. 

"Killing the Time" makes me feel like I’m in an 80’s music video and having a blast. There's a great sense of blossoming sound on "Lie to Me," which starts out almost muddy and then soars to a synth-laden work of art. I can't urge listeners enough to go out and support In Letter Form. They've claimed their place in a pop noir showcase and you're going to want to know their name.

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