Dreamer's Drug

Alex Hackett, the ex-frontman of Kill the Lights (the Toronto-formed, Montreal-based shoegaze band that broke up in 2010), lulls music lovers on the aptly titled Dreamer's Drug, the first EP of his new project Pang Attack. While knowledge of his previous band isn't essential to appreciate his latest, Kill the Lights nostalgics should appreciate this new work of art. Hackett's return is mellower, uncased and especially interesting. Dreamer's Drug is a collection of luxuriant, grimy, post-rock-inspired songs that should, at least, please fans of Bon Iver's eponymous album. Hackett's voice is especially, surprisingly warm and soulful on this six-song EP, arousing comparisons to TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe on Sea of Fire, Interpol's Paul Banks on Horses and even The National's Matt Berninger on Land of Fake Tans.
-André Péloquin