Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2011

The archetypal Okkervil River song draws from folk and rock and has a cyclical ascendant feel created by dense, throbbing guitar and piano notes, sonically broadened with robust drumming and soaring strings, and topped with the wistful singing of songwriter and producer Will Sheff. Their latest opus I Am Very Far stays with this winning formula while taking a few interesting detours – “Piratess” brings to mind Holy Fuck’s lo-tech electronica, and “Your Past Life as a Blast” has a frat boy Afropop feel. However, “Rider,” “White Shadow Waltz,” and “We Need a Myth” all stay within the band’s template to good effect, as does standout track “Show Yourself,” where soft acoustic guitar and Sheff’s delicate voice creates a maudlin mood of wind through grass or moonlight on ripples, before the band skilfully ramp things up with burbling bass, echoey drums, spiralling guitars, and a feeling of rumbling euphoria.