The Antiques arrived at the studio on a Monday night.  The skies offered no lighting and the porch lights, which were few and far between, were the only signs of human inhabitants in the outskirts of Monroe, North Carolina.  The air was thick and the simple act of breathing was exhausting.  They were surrounded by fields amongst forests, a far cry from the Southern Californian beaches they were used to.  Judging by sight alone, the pastoral environment seemed peaceful and the residents of Monroe seemed to live life at a slower pace.  However, there was a deafening sound in the air that would have been unbearable, had it not been for such an incredible back-story.

The cicada is an insect that lives the majority of its 17-year lifespan underground.  They develop as larva for over a decade and a half until they grow into large flies, anywhere from three to five centimeters in length.  They emerge from the ground, cling to nearby trees, and shed their skin.  They live the remainder of their superterranean life at the tops of trees, belting out one of the loudest mating calls possible by any insect.  The removal of their exoskeleton is what makes such a loud sound possible.  It reveals a layer of skin that, when pushed against by internal organs, produces a vibration that resonates through their hollow body.

Similar to the cicada, The Antiques shed their old skin when they walked into the studio this past July.  The album was recorded and mixed by Scott Solter, producer of The Mountain Goats, Okkervil River, and John Vanderslice.  Throughout the twenty day session, the band experimented with their indie-folk-rock sound, incorporating instruments beyond their usual repertoire like steel drums, Hammond organs, and banjos.  They also added more obscure sounds like the recording of a wire recorder, vocals put through Leslie speakers, and even the sound of the cicadas, which all added beautiful textures to the band’s beautiful superb melodies.

There is also a more serious lyrical approach on the record.  Lead singer, Joey Barro, sings of loyalty in love and friendship on “Silent Picture” and the internal conflict he faces as an American in “Heritage Fate.”

The album represents the new skin that the band has developed since its beginnings five years ago.  Suitably, the album is titled Cicadas, and it is truly a masterpiece.