“Why does it hurt to know you?“
As the embers of any late surprises in 2024 began to flicker away, Angel Number made a stunning return on “The Fabric Speaks“, one of the most spectacular comebacks of the year. Impressing in years gone by with “Long May I Reign” and dual single offering “May The Beauty Burn” and “I Have No Answers For You“, it seemed like Angel Number were set to join the ranks of the likes of Holy Fawn and Loathe, who have each crafted their own shoegaze tinted worlds and sounds. In their time out since their singles, Angel Number have been crafted something truly special it, and that begins with first EP in the chapter titled I.
Intro “The Prince of Darkness” usher in a ‘down the rabbit hole‘ style of opening, as synths and samples create a soundscape with the air of a coming storm that snaps into the new era of Angel Number on “The Midnight Chair“. It is here and on following track “High on You” where you will find their familiar sound, with further refinement and an extra edge. There is a haunted nature to “The Midnight Chair” akin to that some of HEALTH‘s work, with the song’s closing synth and drum work having the salvo-manner that HEALTH tracks burst into. The wider EP’s concept begins to bleed in further on “High On You”, revealing that is a story to be told here, rather than just a collection of tracks.
This leads I. to the aforementioned “The Fabric Speaks“. Since it’s release has been difficult not to marvel in its perfection. Any respectable follower should be considering it among the best tracks of the year. Vocalist Vybiral showcases a vocal performance that, with its emotiveness, forms a connection beyond the song – oddly reminicient of Shiny Toy Guns‘ “You Are The One” at times. The vocal hooks “Fight the fight, you and I, by first light, the unrevealed” sink themselves into the mind and yearn to be returned to. Each element is brimming with energy, the synth work forming its own wonderful soundscapes, as if we are dancing in the eye of the storm of the record’s near half-runtime, and the full influence of the likes of M83 come to the fore.
“Fateful“‘s stomping beats and wrangling riffs summon the record back into a memorising tempo, crafting an electronic force akin Innerpartysystem‘s later work. It’s mentioning the incredible music video work done by Angel Number themselves alongside Theodore Swaddling which lets us into the narrative of I..
While “Eye to Eye” is a solid track, did perhaps lack the spark to standout like other tracks on the record, sitting itself too much in familiar Angel Number territory. They do ensure to close out the EP in grandiose fashion on “A Worthy Host“, feeling more direct in its delivery, providing a strong suggestion to where the story’s protagonist is at this point in their story. Instrumentally, everything has an extra force to it, ensuring that the mind is at full attention of thee closing moments.
The dark and ethereal world that Angel Number have began to craft here is something grand and unique in recent moment, harnessing sounds of old with new methods, to create something that at times can feel so familiar yet new, is truly impressive. Not only content with piecing together some of the best tracks of 2024, Angel Number add in a layer of narrative to their EP that will no doubt be further explored in later releases. While it has taken time, what Angel Number have done here is more than worth the wait, and if what follows continues to meet this level of sheer quality, the full story will be absolutely spectacular.
8.5/10
I. is out now via independent release.