ALBUM REVIEW: Duster - In Dreams

Duster

Duster has had an undeniably unique journey to legendary status. The slowcore/space rock act formed in 1996, and spent their initial five-year stint in the shadows of Up labelmates Modest Mouse and Built to Spill. Despite breaking up in 2001, the group had attracted a cult following, and listeners were thrilled when archival record label Numero Group announced the reissuing of Duster’s catalog in 2019. This marked the band’s official revival, as their third studio album was released later that year, and they began touring again. Over the last five years, Duster’s following has grown dramatically, as their earlier works have found a new, younger fanbase. New slowcore bands have begun to emerge, clearly influenced by the warbly, spacey sound of Duster’s 1998 opus Stratosphere. Since their comeback, Duster has grown to be considered by many (such as myself) as a seminal act from the 1990s underground.

This year, the band expanded their sonic universe with a new studio album. Just two weeks after releasing a single with Dirty Art Club, Duster surprise-released their latest project, In Dreams. The 43-minute record is exactly what you would expect from the indie rock veterans—slow, spacey, and rich. The album opens with “Quiet Eyes,” a track that initially reads like any other Duster song—fuzzy but gentle bass nestled between slow drums and tape-delayed guitar on the edge of breakup. Eventually, the track opens up; the drummer switches to the ride cymbal, and the guitar reaches for a higher note. The result is comforting; the cascading layers of guitar fall atop the washy cymbals like rain on a quiet evening.

Unfortunately, the vocals on the record often feel like an afterthought. While vocal performance has never been at the forefront of Duster’s sound, many of their best works feature well-written vocal melodies that add a distinct character that brings the pieces together (see “Cooking”). The same level of nuance is not as consistently present on In Dreams. “Starting to Fall” stands out to me in particular; the vocals come across as a little forced and unnatural. Thankfully, these vocal drawbacks don’t significantly diminish the overall quality of the songs, as the instrumental performances are stellar as always. In fact, many of my favorite songs on the record are purely instrumental. The spellbinding “Cosmotransporter” is a clear highlight; the group pairs hazy layers of spacey guitars with a consistent rhythmic pulse, creating a hypnotic atmosphere that invokes a high-speed journey through the galaxy. The closing track “Anhedonia” is similarly captivating, with vocals shrouded behind layers of effects, the lyrics indiscernible. The piece is slow and atmospheric, and ends as each layer is stripped away—a wonderful finish to the album.

Duster’s In Dreams takes a contemporary approach to the band’s classic “analog” sound. Like 2022’s Together, the songs here don’t have the same distinct lo-fi character as the band’s earlier works. Simply put, In Dreams sounds like a Duster record made in 2024. It may not live up to the remarkable highs of Stratosphere or Contemporary Movement, but those are standards we shouldn’t expect the band to shoot for. Although their old material may feel new to many of us, decades have passed since their release, and the group has continued to evolve. In fact, In Dreams serves as another reminder of the band’s impressive consistency. The record’s textures are lush and diverse, the songs beautifully simple, and the performances excellent. 28 years after the band’s formation, Duster continues to release quality space-rock anti-bangers. 

go listen to In Dreams you might like it

RIYL: My Bloody Valentine, Horse Jumper of Love, Alex G
Tasting Notes: CRT televisions, dusty tapes from your grandparents’ attic, messing with the feedback on your analog delay pedal
Recommended Tracks: Quiet Eyes, Close to Home, Cosmotransporter, Black Lace, Baking Tapes
FCC: all clean
-DJ Redvines AKA Shalen Farahi