Future Historians Self-Titled
(SING A SIMPLE SONG)
There's a fine line between satisfyingly simple and overly elementary. Future Historians walk it. With the exception of the peppy acoustic track "The Martyr," all the songs on the band's self-titled debut EP blend slow, easy sequences of notes into straightforward folk-pop harmonies.
The EP—a vinyl 10-inch that comes paired with a CD—finds flair, though, in frontman Dave Shur's dark, pastoral lyrics. He wraps his words around the simple hooks to conjure images of windy cliffs, burdensome friendships and fatal mistakes, and the playful interaction between Shur's voice and the band's undemanding orchestration—on tracks that average just over two minutes apiece—keeps the record easy on the ears. The unimposing arrangements of "Lost A Bet" are spiced up by Shur's coy croon: "I don't make those same mistakes anymore/ One foot on the floor and one eye on the door/ I'll get it next week for sure."
Shur gets help from the EP's fine mastering, which is as crisp and clean as any local release in recent memory. When listening to lead track "Dogs With Teeth" through headphones, the flutter of mandolin sounds—and feels—exactly like a dragonfly buzzing in your left ear. I flinched on the first listen. WHITNEY HAWKE
SEE IT: Future Historians play Backspace Saturday, Dec. 6. $5. 9 pm. All ages.