Floater’s latest release offers listeners two discs of raw, live music on “Floater Lives.” The band started in Eugene in 1993 and has
released several albums since, the most notable being 1994’s “Sink.” The members now reside in Portland and continue to make trips down to Eugene to play for their dedicated fan base.
“Floater Lives” is a strong live album that showcases the band’s diversity in song arrangement and skill on the guitars. Expect a jumpy and varied mix of songs that often sound similar to Tool’s dark and lush instrumental processions. “Endless I,” on disc one, departs from the guitar crunch of songs like “Peter the Destroyer” and “Settling” and branches out, becoming a dreamy ballad with powerful vocals and a poppy melody. Other songs tend to sound similar on “Floater Lives” but are still more than worth listening to. The album plays like a live show, with songs blurring into one another and the steady cheers from the crowd. Listeners get the feeling that Floater is performing a private show for them in their own house.
Floater fans will enjoy the two discs, but newcomers may want to check out an older album to hear Floater’s ability in the recording studio. Catch Floater on June 24 at Secret House Vineyards in Veneta for the KNRQ Summer Blast. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.