reax music magazine :: music + culture » Reviews » Lush Progress - Elevator Dream

Tampa-based quintet Lush Progress cut their way into the musical pie and serve up some home-baked goods on their sophomore release Elevator Dream.  It’s 11 tracks of indie, rock, experimental and classical all mixed together with a whimsical combination of elegance and skill. Title track “Elevator Dream” encapsulates the medley spirit of the entire album. “Pop Song,” “Tired Eyes” and “Wilhelm Lehmbruck” are catchier songs, while “All in Good Time,” “Sunsets with Pictures of Patti Smith” and “The Ocean, My Mother” feature the impeccable synergy of their craft. Together they harness soundscapes spanning classic Pink Floyd to the modern likes of Radiohead while maintaining their unique sound. The essence of progress is timing and that’s their signature trait. From the ambient streaming of orchestral compositions with experimental edges to the sprinkles of thematic melodies, the album’s moderate pace gives way to a consistency and diversity unmatched by most mainstream work. The musical execution is spiced up with two lead vocalists, a chivalrous cello, tender winds and amicable keys for a cohesive conglomeration of dense transcendence. That’s amore. – Stephanie Bolling