If you have a playlist on your iPod full of songs that relax you, you might want to add Horse Feathers’ latest album Cynic’s New Year to it. Horse Feathers released Cynic’s New Year as their fourth full-length album on April 27. Horse Feathers is classified as a folk/indie band, and they stick to that genre throughout the album.

Members of Horse Feathers play instruments different from the normal lineup in a stereotypical band. The group has gone through changes in members over the years, but current members of Horse Feathers have been with the band since 2009, releasing Thistled Spring in 2010.

Currently, Justin Ringle uses his vocal chords, Nathan Crockett plays violin, Catherine Odell plays the cello and Sam Cooper plays many different instruments to balance out the sounds.

“A Heart Arcane” invites the listener to the album. The song is warm and peaceful, with singer/songwriter Ringle’s voice suiting the instruments perfectly. The four-piece group, and the instruments each members uses, mesh perfectly. The lack of harsh drums in the background or a prominent bass gives “A Heart Arcane” a light feel. Any fan of folk or indie should be delighted when hearing this song.

The second track, “Last Waltz,” is the most popular song on the album. If nothing else, purchasing this track is essential. Odell’s cello and Crockett’s violin can clearly be heard in a beat much more bold than that of the first track. Instrumentals shine as Ringle sings (from what I can pick up): “Calling the doctor and break the news / sick in the head / our hearts got the blues.” Ringle’s voice is different than most. Some of his lyrics are rather hard to make out.

“Pacific Bray” starts off slow and quiet with piano, but picks up gradually over a crescendo. The simple plucks on what must be a ukulele (or a similar string instrument – maybe a very tame banjo?) sound gorgeous in the song. Buying the song just to hear that instrument is worth it.

Crockett’s violin is beautiful in “So Long” as Ringle sings in this powerful line, “Call it by name / the young and the vain / they are one in the same.”

Horse Feathers picks up the beat a little more in “Fit Against the Country.” Instead of sounding nice and easygoing, the instruments have more of an attitude than in any other song. Still, even with the upbeat sounds, Ringle’s voice never wavers from its usual calm. He sings in his usual, somewhat monotonous, tone.

“Better Company” sounds darker than any other track. The instruments change, but Ringle stays the same. The tones of the instruments are more menacing and Ringle’s voice makes it seem like he doesn’t notice. He sings in his usual style despite the stylistic changes in the instruments.

Easygoing sounds return in “Bird on a Leash,” and Ringle’s voice sounds more muffled. The way his voice is delivered suits the tone of the song. Everything meshes perfectly once again.

[This is a piece that should have been the cover of the last issue of The Buzzworthy for the semester, but alas, it never was published.]