Zoltars Walking Through The Dark

*Austin TX's THE ZOLTARS have always wanted each release they put out to sound different. Their output to date has included one full length and two 7"s that have been met with critical acclaim and helped build a cult following with fans including Matador/12XU's Gerard Cosloy (who featured the band on his Austin scene comp Casual Victim Pile II) and singer songwriter Jessica Pratt among many others. One quickly realizes this new album is their most ambitious offering to date. While The Zoltars' debut, Should I Try Once More (Sundae Records), focused on minimal, melancholy garage pop narratives, this record emphasizes lush textures first and foremost, providing a wall of sound backdrop to the songwriting. There are still outsider art themes here, as there are on all Zoltars releases, but this album is perhaps the most melodic, least antagonistic, and dare we say, most beautiful. Recorded by John Michael Landon (who's worked with Bill Callahan, Okkervil River, Literature), Walking Through The Dark layers dense pianos and cellos on top of shoegaze guitars-all elements that are new to The Zoltars canon-but the record is still rooted in their familiar, deadpan sound and it certainly takes you into their world.