More than two years after releasing his debut LP, Forget the Mantra, multi-instrumentalist Dave Hartley is back with his sophomore release under the Nightlands moniker. Staying true to the sonic aesthetic that brought him critical acclaim with his first record, the innovative use of instrumental as well as vocal layering pervades Oak Island in even more intriguing and inventive ways. Hartley’s multi-dimensional persona as the bassist for the Philadelphia-based band The War on Drugs as well as one of the chief orchestrators behind a campaign to get an underappreciated NBA player into the 3-Point Shootout during the All-Star weekend is a testament to the versatile nature of his character — a trait that certainly embodies his new album.
“So Far So Long” exemplifies Hartley’s ability to turn what in many ways is a musically-simple song structure into an atmospheric wall of sound, enveloping the listener in the nostalgic haze of dozens of voices in harmony. What he confesses to be the result of experiments and mistakes made in the studio ultimately comes together to give this song’s somber lyrics an honest and strangely romantic tone. The cyclic patterns that permeate his music are evident from both a technical and poetic standpoint in this particular track. His lyrics are brutally simple, yet effective after a healthy dose of his studio wizardry. Describing long chains of effects pedals, amplifiers and echo modules used on instruments ranging from guitars to trumpets, a chorus of distant-sounding voices and accompaniment give this song its entrancing quality.
With both albums standing in high regard, I must say that this song among others on his new album provide a much more focused and refined collection of lyrics and music. Hartley is keen to resist shying away from opening himself up through his lyrics, and songs such as this one provide listeners with a much more personally-oriented record. With a handful of songs dwelling on breakups and the general toils one finds themself working through in life, his attention to detail and dedication to create music through an experimental process give it a unique feeling of hope and optimism.