“Turn off your mind, relax, and float down stream.” It’s a shame The Beatles have already used that line, but those are the first words that come to mind when listening to The Antlers’ “Drift Dive” single from their new Undersea EP.
Fronted by guitarist/wordsmith Peter Silberman, The Antlers’ Undersea is the latest effort by the Brooklyn trio, following their last studio album, 2011’s Burst Apart, and their magnum opus 2009 concept album Hospice. Given an 8.5/10 and rated the No. 37 album of 2009 by Pitchfork, Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a female patient suffering from bone cancer and a hospice worker. Through ten tracks, the album tells of these characters’ ensuing relationship and the downward spiral that occurs as a result of the patient’s fears, traumas, and disease.
Usually, bone cancer and indie rock are two things that are almost never synonymous; however, The Antlers have treaded unfamiliar territory with a record that tears at listeners’ heart strings and that is deserving of praise for tackling such heavy-handed subject matter. The album also proved that The Antlers are more than just any other indie band from Brooklyn trying their hand at playing music. Though Undersea isn’t quite as much of a downer as Hospice, it nonetheless represents the musical talent and songwriting skill of the group.
With “Drift Dive,” The Antlers showcase their mellow side by inducing a soothing, trancelike mood that makes it nearly impossible not to sway to. Very much like the act of drift diving, where the diver allows himself to be swept away in the currents of the sea, The Antlers’ single streams through speakers with a wave-like melody fluid enough to transport the listener with eyes closed, muscles relaxed, and conscious clear of any day-to-day struggles right to the misty blue depths of the ocean.