Dream-pop, a sun-soaked, beach-friendly sect of the omnipresent indie-synth explosion, continues to evolve with this Australian trio. Initial notes signal the familiar cloud-like state of emptiness we’ve come to expect in the genre, content to wander with little regard for time and space and certainly without direction. Endlessly reverberating guitar usually adds to that state of mind yet the darker chords chosen by The Holidays, coupled with the heavier vocals of the chorus, push “Voices Drifting” toward its own, alternative branch of the indie world. Still nonchalant, still mesmerizing, just with added undertones of force or anger. The video only accentuates that harsh tone.
“Voices Drifting” is accompanied by one of the better music videos I’ve seen in a long time. In part because of how well it complements the eerie tune, this 3½-minute clip is not easily viewed just once. An impressive stunt performed throughout the entirety of the video is the other factor keeping the replay arrow in perpetual motion as it circles back to consume itself.
Lead singer Simon Jones delivers the entire song from underwater. In one take. It’s a great opening single from the upcoming sophomore album that promises a little more edge than its 2010 predecessor. Submerging 29 seconds in, Jones remains below, eyes open, perfectly lip-synching each verse until after the three-minute mark. Haven’t heard enough to take a peek? Well, he also did it in the middle of winter and was unable to complete the track in the first 15 or so takes until finally able to slow his heart rate enough to accomplish the feat. Sure, the multi-colored lights, strobe, and fog machine are still there but so is a man visibly struggling for breath while singing of freedom. Culminating in a rebel yell, “Voices Drifting” is an atypical release in these clean-cut, happy times.