In Absence [LP]

Stare Away – In Absence [LP]

“Stare Away, the solo project of New York City-based musician Ben Nelson, deals in music where atmosphere isn’t decorativeit’s load-bearing. In Absence, his seven-song debut EP onLa Carte Records, is built on brooding, synth-driven arrangements and melodies that linger well past their welcome. Rooted in the emotional vocabulary of post-punk and new wave without feeling like a nostalgia exercise, the record carries the shadowed grandeur of The Chameleons into firmly present-tense territory.From the urgent propulsion of “”Parting Ways”” to the cinematic sweep of “”Familiar,”” In Absence moves between moods with deliberate precisionrestless, melancholic, and impossible to shake.””Nelson’s eerie, echoing vocals create a sense of unease and alienation that lingers like an uninvited guest who refuses to leave.””Post-Punk.com1. In Absence 2. Seek Out 3. Faithless Hum 4. Parting Ways 5. Midnight Martyr 6. Wait Around 7. Familiar