Following touring in support of a 2015 debut album that blended the hazy textures of dream pop with a buoyant, anthemic pop, Philadelphia's
Cheerleader
went on an indefinite hiatus. Founding member
Chris Duran
parted ways with the group, and though bandleader
Joe Haller
began writing songs again in time, he did so for himself without any intention of them serving
. However, he eventually did present some of the darker, more reflective material to bandmates, who ultimately embraced the not-so-subtle tonal shift. Recorded with producer
Chris Coady
(
Beach House
,
Foals
), the resulting
Almost Forever
is a spaced-out, psychedelic outing that still puts a premium on glistening atmospheres but moves them into a more introspective setting. Beginning with a crash and a wistful verse involving pretending, altered states, and dreams, "Flight Tonight" sets the stage with a
Lennon
-esque melancholia and trippy soundscape built from ringing guitars, vintage synth and organ timbres, and fluttery effects. Its restrained melody and floaty feel are soon contrasted by the livelier "Domestica," which continues to reside in fluid, echoing atmospheres. Elsewhere, "Non-Stop Flight" ventures into bass-driven post-punk, "Chimera" buries vocals in effects amidst a swirl of
Cure
-like synth rhapsody, and "Things We Regret" approaches a more-refined '80s pop, if one that maintains reflective surfaces. Sharing some of the opener's ghostly noise effects, closer "All That's Left" bookends the album with another spacy narrative concerned with dreaming and regret, though it seems to drop off listeners at a station somewhere in space, far removed from the opener's airport. Along the way, catchy entries like "Everyone's Wearing Skin" and "Providence" provide lasting mementos from the journey. ~ Marcy Donelson