Crumb release second album Ice Melt

Crumb have released their second album Ice Melt, two years after their critically acclaimed debut, Jinx. The new venture is thematically rich, and discusses disconnection, dissonance and transformation of self. The compositions are more complex than their previous album; there is a sense of moving from one spot to another, rather than the simpler adding and subtracting of layers.

The band converged to record in LA, and with the sessions broken up by the COVID’s rolling lockdowns, the album’s patient delivery mirrors – intentionally or not – the timeless monotony of lockdowns. The song-writing is honest and current with many of the motifs explored relevant to a global youth experiencing global turmoil. The weighty drums, silky bass and dissonant soundscapes are all confident and purposeful in their lines. Many of the songs flow into one another without major variation, but Ice Melt’s sound, holistically, is measured and enjoyable, although at times falls prey to sounding overly similar. Jonathan Rado has done a great job with the production, showcasing each of the talented members strengths, giving all their instruments room to breathe while bringing them together into a one, cohesive sound.

There is a general spookiness notable throughout the album, typified by the eerie guitar riffs. Despite front-woman Lila Ramani’s characterisation of the album as a ‘return back down to earth’, the psychedelic aspects defy any complete grounding. That’s with the exception of the Jonathan Gilad’s drums, which represent reality in contrast to the atmosphere created by the ethereal vocals. Dissonance and vibrato is used to great effect with the guitar lines, which gives the music a dreamlike, summered haze feel; a feeling echoed in Ramani’s vocals, which are languid at times.

Ice Melt is good indie-pop achievement, and a clear forward step for the band. It was an enjoyable listen and Crumb continue to do what they do best, psychedelic indie-pop tracks with high-quality lyricism and definite groove.

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Image: Third Pupil