Walrus Junction
‘Somnium’
Self-released
From the opening
seconds of “Somnium,” the upbeat energy of the music
clings to you like a welcome scent. Walrus Junction makes the kind of
well-crafted, melodic rock that might be easy to discredit as pop pleansantries, but the subtle intelligence of the songs
makes them hard to forget. With clear structures and accessible, toe-tapping
grooves, the band ostensibly dares you not to dance to this five-cut EP.
That said, it’s the lead vocals of Ignatius Marino and Tanner Kartes that elevate the music with a charisma that’s
downright seductive. In his upper range, Marino’s tenor voice is incisive but
smooth on “Blood on the Streets,” while Kartes’
soulful croon sells the jazz-tinged balladry of “Ghost Town.”
“Somnium” is available on
iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple Music.
This article appears in Dec 5-11, 2018.
