The Royal Arctic Institute - From Coma To Catharsis

The only problem I had with the Royal Arctic Institute’s previous release, From Catnap To Coma, was that it was too short. Now, with its follow-up, From Coma To Catharsis, that problem has been solved. As its title implies, this one picks right up where the NYC-based “cinematic jazz quintet” left off with a gorgeous mini-album’s worth of dreamlike compositions, like Tortoise covering Santo & Johnny. Once again recorded with pristine delicacy by Yo La Tengo’s James McNew (hey, they’ve got a new album, too!), the six instrumental tracks here are intricate without being fussy, lovely but not without a slightly restless undercurrent, glacially paced but with plenty of forward momentum. All very nice contrasts! Catharsis awaits.

The soundscapes you’ll find on the new collection do seem a little less submerged and a little more evocative of the world waking up again, with the potential discomfort that entails. I checked in with John Leon about the band in recent days, the state of the world, and how that might relate to From Catnap to Catharsis.

One of the hidden jewels of the urban Northeast, the Royal Arctic Institute returns with From Coma to Catharsis, a sequel of sorts to its prior EP From Catnip to Coma. As before, the quintet (anchored by former Das Damen rhythm section Lyle Hysen and David Motamed and former Summer Wardrobe guitarist/pedal steelist John Leon) favors a mysterious, semi-ambient wash of cosmic Americana, as if filtering the Southwestern vistas of their imagination through the lens of a telescope tuned to the stars. The title track sets up a glowing atmosphere of steel and Carl Baggaley’s electric piano over which guitarist Lynn Wright sensitively solos, while “Passover Buckets” adds a layer of otherworldly shimmer that could just as easily come from the desert at dawn as another dimension. Boasting a searching, even spiritual edge, melodies like those of “Angelman’s Lament” and “The Elated World” reach for something just beyond humanity’s grasp, but whatever it is will obviously lead us to the light.

I always claim I don’t like much instrumental music but when I hear something this good my mind is always changed. In other words, if you let yourself get swept away by the beauty here then that will indeed happen.

THE ROYAL ARCTIC INSTITUTE This group of New York City musician vets author instrumental music that brings forth such descriptors as “chill,” “cinematic,” “noirish,” and (blame me for this one) “atmospheric twang-jazz.” Fans of Big Lazy, SUSS, and the twangy side of Bill Frisell should find much to enjoy here!

Is post-rock meant to be this relaxing? According to The Royal Arctic Institute, this isn’t post-rock, it’s “post-everything.” The album encompasses lounge, jazz (regular and dark) and even ambience. The Jersey quintet has chosen their moniker and album title well, as From Catnap to Coma is perfect music for the sluggish time between the holidays and spring, amplified in a pandemic year. If one were to paint a post-rock spectrum, this cassette would land midway between classic Low and Do Make Say Think.

Best album title of the year so far goes to the Royal Arctic Institute, whose new cassette ep From Catnap to Coma is streaming at Spotify. Over the last few years, the New York instrumentalists have developed a distinctive sound that draws on film noir soundtracks, surf music, psychedelia and new wave. At a time when so much of the New York music scene has been scattered to places like Texas and Florida, it’s good to see these guys sticking around and putting out their best record so far.

The Royal Arctic Institute isn’t a science organization, although two of the members are in the medical field. This quintet creates an atmospheric, guitar-centric sound, like the Ventures gone slow-mo and psychedelic. It’s a subtly ambient sound with elements of shoegaze, country, and more, creating an imaginary landscape. Hear an exclusive live performance with the Royal Arctic Institute.

On-air guests Lyle Hysen + John Leon from New York, NY via skype. Spiel from watt in between tunes he plays from his and his guests' collections

It’s feeling pretty arctic in my neck of the woods, so The Royal Arctic Institute is just the ticket these days. From Catnap To Coma clocks in at just under 25 minutes, but it’s a completely satisfying trip, an instrumental song suite that is best enjoyed in full. The guitars glisten, the melodies shimmer, the tempos stay appropriately glacial. I’m reminded at times of the mellower side of 1990s Pell Mell albums. And also a bit of the more elegant Yo La Tengo instrumental workouts — which makes perfect sense, since none other than James McNew manned the boards for the EP, giving everything a spacious, dreamy quality.

The band plays widescreen, cinematic instrumentals that call to mind sweeping vistas at dawn, or dusk – only the landscape is covered in snow instead of sand.

Whether you experience the album as one continuous track or as five separate songs (the band offers both formats but recommends the first), you can easily get lost in the hallucinatory guitar-twining sprawl of stoner-folk trips such as “Fishing by Lantern,” “First of the Eight,” and “Anosmia Suite.” With cinematic beauty and layered detail that could make Ennio Morricone envious, From Catnap to Coma is a blissful escape.

The Royal Arctic Institute – From Catnap To Coma: This one clocks in at just under 25 minutes, but it’s a completely satisfying trip, an instrumental song suite that is best enjoyed in full. The guitars glisten, the melodies shimmer, the tempos stay appropriately glacial. I’m reminded at times of the mellower side of 1990s Pell Mell albums and also a bit of the more elegant Yo La Tengo instrumental workouts — which makes perfect sense, since none other than James McNew manned the boards for the EP, giving everything a spacious, crystalline quality.