From the first crash of the cymbals to the last drawn-out chord of the organ, a retooled and regrouped Aloha delves into its third album, Here Comes Everyone, with a newfound confidence for exploring the limitless sonic possibilities of the present while offering an appreciative nod to the band's post-rock past.
Aloha put itself to the test on Here Comes Everyone, thriving from the addition of new instrumentation and subtle stylistic differences resulting from a change in the remaining original lineup, which includes singer-guitarist Tony Cavallario, bassist Matthew Gengler and drummer Cale Parks. The departure of percussionist Eric Koltnow also brings the end to the previously ever-present vibraphone that often unfairly overshadowed the former incarnation of the band. With the addition of multi-instrumentalist T.J. Lipple the ambitious infusion of marimbas and mellotron into the tracks on Here Comes Everyone give Aloha a refreshing earthiness without changing the band's penchant for lush and expansive soundscapes.
Within a 45-minute span the album runs the gamut from the contemplative inner-turmoiled pop of "I Don't Know What Else To Do" -- simultaneously intimate and grandiose -- to "Water Your Hands," an inventively post-modern prog-rock hybrid. Two tracks that debuted earlier this year on a seven-inch titled "Boys in the Bathtub" make encore appearances on the album. The aforementioned is a purely '70s AM-Gold throwback while its partner track, "You've Escaped," serves to musically bridge the gap between the former Aloha and the present. Sure Here Comes Everyone doesn't sound like previous releases by Aloha, but before the hour is up you'll hardly notice. And what else would you expect from a band with a name that means both "hello" and "farewell"?
