Local Album Review // elias, if only // RARE EMBERS, LATE SPRING
4.5/5 stars
The evolution of Erie independent artist/songwriter/you-name-it Eli Kerr (under the moniker elias, if only) has been fascinating to watch. Not unlike another local songwriter, Brian the Fly, longtime observers have seen Kerr's production evolve from hip-hop to indie-flavored songwriting and even country music, once again landing somewhere new on the immediately fascinating RARE EMBERS, LATE SPRING. With hardly any vocals featured throughout the record's efficient 30-minute runtime, listeners will instantly be hooked by the chillwave-influenced guitars on album opener "APRIL 15 (TAXES II)," which feels like a midpoint between 2000s indie and Mk.gee's current run. But the album gets weirder from there, and that's not a bad thing; amongst snippets of dialogue and conversation are warbly, soft keys and pleasant guitar noodling ("FAT BIRD"). In fact, if one were forced to come up with a comparison, RARE EMBERS, LATE SPRING sounds a bit like A24's latest signee ear (an ambient electropop duo from New York) – but in the most thrilling way. The latest from elias, if only sounds like the distillation of a dozen influences boiled down into something completely fresh.
