“I’m trying to heal, swimming deeper down.“
Since Angel Number returned last year, it has been difficult to not see them as one of the most exciting prospects in the UK. Eight months on, it is even more difficult to not see “The Fabric Speaks” as anything short of mesmerising. Across I., Angel Number crafted a haunting atmosphere that was met with an expansive sound of post-hardcore and post-punk. Their combination of melodies across instruments from synths and drums, plus vocals from Vybiral that have a unique timbre, made for a sound that was uniquely embraceful. And with all this early on, Angel Number have managed to find a way to make II. even more outstanding.
The lead into their second chapter has been a grand cat to skin, to not sound rather obtuse. Lead single “Omen Of The Night” showed the warmer colours of Angel Number, stepping into the light of the story they are telling. Neat post-punk riffs, including a bridge, feel familiar to what Drab Majesty crafted on Modern Mirror. The guitar hook here is irresistible. With this, and across the tracks, there is something deeply satisfying to Angel Number‘s sound. While not overtly complex, each moment feels like a force moving through the gears with satisfying grace.
As strides are taken through “Anxiously Walking On Water“, it is where the magic of Angel Number does perhaps become realised, even in isolation of a single entry. Moving back through their discography, Angel Number’s ability to maintain atmosphere within their sound has always been present since dual single “May The Beauty Burn“. It is on “Anxiously Walking On Water” that this again truly kicks in, akin to what Angel Number did on “The Fabric Speaks“. While more impactful than before in both recent iterations, the way the synths wrap around the drum grooves is exertive, with Vybiral‘s vocal performance arguably one of the best going right now.
How does all this perform in a wider EP? Opener “The King Of Light” offers up some gorgeous ambient sounds that have the air of BVDUB and Loscil production on EREBUS with an energetic flair. “Another Cathedral Wall” is an absolute earworm from Angel Number, who are showing their hand when it comes to piecing together tracks that capture the mind. Outside of the grooves within this track are, again, Vybiral‘s vocals, which hold a striking grief. As they sing, “How did you choose to live now?” has a harrowing nature to it, before moving into a beautiful bridge that simply has to be heard to be appreciated.
“The Chalice”, which was the second single within this EP, as expected, further exhibits Angel Number‘s ability. There is a grandiose to “The Chalice”. Its soaring chorus will surely resonate with listeners. As the lyric “How could you waste the rest of your life, untouched by love?” weaves through the track, it’s clear that II. is something special. Moving between the aforementioned “Anxiously Walking On Water” into the closer “Facing The Fire“, II. ends on a resoundingly high note. While one complaint of I. was that “High On You” was perhaps a slightly obfuscated closer, “Facing The Fire” has a clear objective in terms of ending this EP. With synths that dance across their range and glisten, Vybiral‘s intent to tell a story comes through again.
Ultimately, it is difficult not to be taken aback at what Angel Number have crafted here. Given each genre they’ve drawn from, whether it be post-hardcore or new-wave, it would be difficult to find another act doing it better either now or in recent years. The combination of synth work that matches the likes of Perturbator, alongside grooves that capture the ear and a stunning vocal performance, make for something truly special. What Angel Number have done deserves to be heard far and wide. Only then can the magic they’ve conjured be truly appreciated.
9/10
II. is out May 23rd via independent release on all streaming platforms.