The Brooklyn-based band has undergone some line-up changes since the 2006 release of Safer, as well as signing to Ernest Jennings Recording Co. (which re-released an expanded version of Safer last year). On Migration, nighttime is twice as scary as the day.
Migration starts its journey with “Monkey Forest Road”, an ominous piece whose keys play almost like a xylophone. “Monkey” and the following “Silence” harkens back somewhat to eighties-era synth-pieces, like the soundtrack to a science-fiction movie, circa 1984. Middle track “Fall Down Where You Stand” throws in eighties reverb, while “(The Optimists Were Right)” and “(The Optimists Were Wrong)” are tech-beat instrumentals.
However, most of the rest of Migration after the “Silence” plays less straight indietronic. While the following “The Takers” is nice and atmospheric, but forgettable, after that comes “Everybody Say”, the records clear standout. Enchanting, but pressing, “Everybody” perfectly straddles a haunted-twee line. Later track “One Foot in a Well” is similar, and while not as outright excellent, still strong. Between them are the weird-then-funky “Homebreaker” (the weakest track on the album), “Fall Down”, and the restrained acoustic strum-scare, “Lion in the Waves”.
While the slow, quiet finisher “You and Universe” has some good touch, it’s really the penultimate “Change, No Change”, that comes through clearest at the end, with a carrying, pressing atmosphere. There is some disappointment with Migration, in that Takka Takka has moved away from the Safer sounds of Night, but the band is crossing new ground as they get out of their comfort zone.
MP3 Stream: "Everybody Say"
