Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review


Future Of Forestry
Travel II EP



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 6 tracks: 24 minutes, 26 seconds
Street Date: September 8, 2009


We are currently in the midst of a three-part journey indie alt-rockers Future of Forestry are undertaking called Travel, a set of three EPs to be released a few months apart from each other. The first chapter has come and gone, and we're now on the second installment, aptly titled Travel II. Travel I was quite an ambitious effort from Eric Owyoung and friends, but arguably fell a bit flat in the end. So how does the sequel fare? Thankfully, Travel II is a better EP than its predecessor; where there were faults, Travel II has filled up the holes nicely.

The first issue not present here is the sheer pretentious epic-factor Travel I had. There are no more overly long track times, a problem last time that plagued two tracks at nearly six minutes apiece. This wouldn't be so much of a problem if it was an album, but with an EP, the concept doesn't work nearly as well. In fairness, though, "Slow Your Breath Down" and "Someday" are both clocking in around five minutes here, but because of the makeup of the songs themselves, it works to its advantage instead of being a stumbling block to the song. It's fine to take more time on a couple tracks to get a more complete effect, and these tracks here achieve that well, unlike the overall tiresome "Colors In Array" and "Halleluiah" on Travel I.

With no track time problems here, what about the songs themselves? As stated, it's an overall better collection this time around. There are more songs here that hold one's interest longer; one reason this could be is the fact that more songs are upbeat rather than mainly ballads. "Hills Of Indigo Blue" opens things up, and while the overall composition of the track is somewhat similar to "Traveler's Song" on Travel, it's distinctive enough to stand on its own. "Holiday" has a catchy guitar riff throughout, while "So Close So Far" majors on a pounding handclap-and-drum scheme, with a little bit of Radiohead-eque guitar thrown in for good measure. "Slow Your Breath Down" is along the same lines as the first EP with its dreamy composition, but again, it works much better, partly because there aren't any other songs like it on the EP, unlike Travel I where almost every track sounded pretty much similar. "Someday" is a nice epic closer, and it leaves me anxious and contemplative, just like a closer should.

Overall, Travel II is a much better EP than Travel I in almost every aspect. FOF hit all the right notes this time around, and with 2009 being the "Year of the EP" with so many being released, Travel II is among the few of them that really stand out, and not just as an EP, but as a cohesive project altogether. If Future Of Forestry keeps improving this concept even more, next year's Travel III could be a masterpiece-to-come. To those who were disappointed by Travel I: prepare to be surprised.

- Review date: 10/3/09, written by Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. Record Label: Credential Recordings
. Album length: 6 tracks: 24 minutes, 26 seconds
. Street Date: September 8, 2009
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Hills Of Indigo Blue (3:48)
  2. Holiday (3:17)
  3. Set Your Sails (3:58)
  4. Slow Your Breath Down (5:00)
  5. So Close So Far (3:30)
  6. Someday (4:56)

 

 

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 8, 2025
SINGLES
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)

This Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire: Songs From The Smoke [Provident]
Grace Graber Everything You Ever Wanted - EP [Wings]
Faith Worship Arts Fill This House (Deluxe) [DREAM]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
The Kingdom Heirs Fortieth Anniversary [Sonlite]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]
Myles Maestro Dead End Road - EP [Syntax]
Make Sure Starry May Morning (independent)
Wintley Phipps A Symphonic Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither [Gaither]
SNT. VINCENT Final Greetings [Syntax]
Razzie Digital Psalms - EP [Syntax]
Matthew West Come Home For Christmas [Provident/Story House]
Josh Wright LEAD (Deluxe) (independent)

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
EJ Swavv & Jeff Knox Deja Vu - Single [Syntax]
gio. DANCE LIKE DAVID (feat. Swaizy) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Benjamin William Hastings At the heart of it (from Worship Together) - Single [Capitol CMG]
JSP No More (feat. Kevin Young) - Single (independent)
Kelo Memory Lane - Single [Syntax]
MATTHEWS Broken Forever - Single [Curb]
Patrick Mayberry + Katie Torwalt God Is Faithful - Single [Provident]
MAYIA Pass Me Not - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Like You - Single [Syntax]
Jeannie Ortega Decipher - Single [Syntax]
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Lee Vasi A Pesar De Todo - Single [Capitol CMG]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]
Jovan Whyte Never Give Up (feat. Dweeno) - Single (independent)

Next Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images