Postcards From Mars returns with new album ‘ego death’
After five years, Postcards From Mars released their sophomore album ego death on May 12.
Known for their indie folk favorites “The Whale” and “Swallow”, Postcard From Mars has delivered another outstanding album. ego death is the psychedelic love child of Sufjan Stevens and Lord Huron. According to the band, ego death is about “drawing inspiration from otherworldly experiences, consciousness, and the harsh reality of running into yourself.”
Photo from Instagram: @postcardsfrommars
The album opens with “cnscsnss.” This track introduces what will become an overarching theme of the album - self-awareness or consciousness. The album begins a little more dark and introspective than their debut album Growth, but it's obvious that they won’t be diverting too far from their unique, transportive style.
The next three tracks emphasize the idea of finding oneself. “The Others” repeats “so, what am I?” reinforcing the search for self-awareness. Leaning more into psychedelia, tracks “In Every Direction” and “River” evoke imagery of a calming, melancholy haze that further perpetuates the idea of feeling lost or trying to find one's way.
With “Shape Up” the haze seems to be fading away and this track expresses a moment of clarity and vulnerability through light and airy vocals.
The weary introspection returns for “Winter Time.” Distorted production elements and uneasy lyricism like “shifting back the clock’s hand” go along with the scaling melodies and the overall feeling that the narrator is lost within his thoughts and hauntings from the past.
Taking a break from psychedelia, “Himalaya” is a more narrative folk story. Hearing clearly from the narrator, he expresses again his need for self-actualization and pleads “I’d do anything for the sun.” The heart of this track is the imagery of the rising sun and the hope of shedding light on the once-unknown shadows.
“Slowly But Surely” is the turning point of the album. It starts much slower, putting the listener in a dream-like trance. Bittersweetly reminiscing on the journey taken so far, the narrator ultimately admits that growth comes from oneself. Similarly, “Alone In Space” is a reflection of loneliness. With strong imagery of floating through space, this ethereal track reinforces the notion that the path to self-discovery is something you must face alone.
“Something New” is the perfect closing track. Wrapping up the album’s theme of self-transformation, the narrator aches to be something new alluding to the idea that you have some control over the person you will become.
Postcards From Mars admits they are “searching for what it means to be human” and ego death could not be a better reflection of that complicated journey.