Album Review: Tan Vampires, Ephemera

Ephemera: (Noun.) Things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time. It is also the apt and ironic title of Tan Vampires’ new 6-song album. Apt in the sense that the album deals with the unsettled feeling left by transient relationships. Ironic, because the EP itself is hardly transient and the song “Into the West” is likely to be an indie music staple this fall and beyond.

Tan Vampires is a band of low-key New Hampshirites whose music is marked by cognizant lyrics and indie pop/rock appeal. They’ve been in the studio since the 2011 release of For Physical Fitness, which caught the attention of NPR, MTV, and me.

Ephemera has the same heavy subject matters built into catchy song structures. Scrupulously used synth and digital percussive effects have also returned. But this record shows a more experienced band that is confident enough in their abilities where they can play around in the studio without straying too far from what they do well. A strong brass presence, double drum kits, and the occasional accordion and oboe give the EP a Beirut-esque vibe. It’s a surprise when Beirut’s Zachary Francis Condon doesn’t start singing after the intros on “Paper Planes” and “The Circle Fades.”

Instead it’s lead vocalist and songwriter Jake Mehrmann. Dynamic drumming and horns, giving the album a bright, upbeat quality that complements his clear voice. But listen closely: much like Fleet Foxes’ music, an undercurrent of nostalgia lurks. It’s enough to make each song poignant, sort of like salting food to perfection.

Mehrmann’s songwriting deals with discontent, bitterness, loss, and loneliness. He makes these sweeping, abstract nouns tangible with lyrics like those on “On Your Side.” Mehrmann sings, “I will roll over onto your side, and wait for the day when it feels like mine,” while brushed drums and muted trumpet create a wistful jazz feel. An indistinct rumble that could be drums, synths, or people talking in a bar materializes and disappears on “The Circle Fades,” a song about groups of friends that do just that. He recalls, “The way our words hung in the air as little clouds that would hover around. One by one, they began to fade until our circle had lost its shape.” The whole album similarly focuses on the painful disappearing tricks that great loves and great friends will perform.

Writing the entirety of the album’s lyrics in this article is tempting, as they’re all raw and wonderful. But that would take all the fun out of discovering them yourself. Keep an eye on Tan Vampires as they continue to grow both their fan base and their impressive beards. Keep an ear on Ephemera, especially on “Into the West.” It’s so catchy that you may not have a choice.

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Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!