Fourth time's a charm for Telekinesis

              Last Tuesday, Telekinesis came out with their fourth album, Dormarion, following the same old pattern of laidback songs that makes for perfect driving music. Telekinesis is known for producing upbeat, punchy tracks in the same vein of Ben Gibbard’s Death Cab for Cutie and the more electronic Postal Service. This time, with the help of Spoon drummer Jim Eno as co-producer, Telekinesis creates a solid mixture of up-tempo beats and calming vocals that complement each other as they introduce us to their newfound hope in relationships. In creating a coherent album that covers more than one genre, Telekinesis demonstrates their musical growth since their last album back in 2011. 

             Telekinesis is the result of the creativity of only one man-- Seattle based Michael Benjamin Lerner. Lerner went to school for audio recording at Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and has been making music as Telekinesis since 2008. From the start, Lerner’s sound as Telekinesis was described as indie rock and was compared to bands like the Shins and Fountains of Wayne. Although Telekinesis is a relatively new band, Lerner quickly made a name for himself as the crazy singer-drummer behind his band’s energetic live shows. Not wasting any talent, Lerner plays nearly every instrument on his albums, and when he performs live, he unconventionally positions his drum set in the front of the stage and excitedly drums and croons into a mic simultaneously, often bringing a few more musicians with him on tour to complete the full Telekinesis sound. Meanwhile, his studio albums combine the simplicity of 60’s rock and roll and the catchiness of 80’s pop, producing a sound that is definitely trendy for the 2010s. Still, Lerner demonstrates his musical flexibility in Dormarion, as he channels a variety of artists ranging from the Beatles to Duran Duran. 

            Dormarion begins with “Power Lines,” which seamlessly continues the flow of Telekinesis’s last album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. The track starts off acoustically and then builds up to a more electronic chorus in typical Telekinesis manner. Similarly, “Emphatic People” and “Dark to Light” sound more like Telekinesis’ older songs, blending driving guitars and upbeat drums. In spite of the resemblance to his old album, Telekinesis’ style is not getting stale by any means. Lerner managed to continue using his old formula for creating music for Dormarion without becoming predictable. 

            The rest of the album is a combination of genres and influences that keep listeners interested, leaving no room for lulls or filler songs. The third track on the album, “Ghosts and Creatures” is the first song to step away from the Telekinesis norm, as the use of synth and reverb make for a dreamier sound than usual. “Wires” is a fun, bass-driven track with synthesizers that are reminiscent of the 80’s, while “Lean on Me” has more of a Beatlesque chord progression--both songs revealing new sides of Telekinesis. A few songs on the album prove to be are a little more punk than normal as well, allowing for listeners to rock out every once in awhile. Moreover, Lerner made sure to include ballads like “Symphony” to break up the rockiness of the rest of the album with folky guitars and piano. 

            Perhaps the most shocking song of the album is “Ever True,” the synth-heavy 80’s powerpop track that could have easily been in any John Hughes film 30 years ago. With the Cure and Duran Duran as obvious influences, “Ever True” is also the one track on the album that is the most danceable, and the most unlike the usual music that Telekinesis has made in the past. Lerner finally ends his album with a hypnotizing track as he repeats the words: “You take it slowly, you take it easier” over distorted guitars. This song is the perfect closer for Dormarion, as if Lerner means for listeners to drift off into deeper thoughts with his soothing last track.  

            Dormarion shows a different side of Telekinesis, as it records a kind of metamorphosis that can only lead to better music in the future. While Telekinesis’ last album had a theme of heartache reflected in its sober songs, Dormarion seems to project new optimism within its tracks. Lerner still makes easygoing indie music but he now has begun to step out of his comfort zone, inspired by a variety of older bands to experiment with new sounds.