Courtesy Marc LemoineNew York’s The Antlers recently released their fifth album, “Familiars.” They will perform Aug. 17 at Musicfest NW in Portland.

“FAMILIARS”

ANTI- Records

The term “achingly beautiful” is such a go-to phrase in cultural criticism that there is even a Twitter account dedicated to pointing out its overuse. As cliché as it is, “achingly beautiful” seems fundamental in describing the songs of a band like The Antlers. The trio’s music is sometimes so personal and so graceful that it can be heartrending to listen to.

That The Antlers have made significant stylistic leaps with each release, from 2009’s “Hospice” to 2011’s “Burst Apart” to new album “Familiars,” while never once failing a sense of blistering elegance is hugely impressive. “Familiars” is perhaps The Antlers’ most affirmative release, but it is also their most complex to date, filled with moments of profundity and reflection. To some, its lack of immediacy may make it feel as out of time as reading verse by a stream, but listeners who remain patient will likely end up enlightened and fulfilled.

The album’s first song and lead single, “Palace,” eases the listener into The Antlers’ world. The song feels like a direct outgrowth of the band’s 2012 EP, “Undersea,” with its slowly unfolding power, but it soon becomes apparent that “Familiars” is going to be a much jazzier affair. Although synthesizers and keyboards have a presence on all of the songs, they have taken a backseat to multi-instrumentalist Darby Cicci’s trumpet, a gamble that pays off nicely. The emphasis on soulful brass, as well as a couple of frontman Peter Silberman’s sparkling clean guitar lines, imbue the songs with a throwback quality while still feeling present

“Familiars’” second track, “Doppelganger,” serves as a fine example of what level The Antlers are working on here. It’s another deliberately paced song, gray and smoky in the places where “Palace” is light. Most startling is Silberman’s choice of briefly abandoning his falsetto for a much lower, crawling register that still holds a lot of drama.

In general, Silberman’s vocals are one of “Familiars’” greatest assets, with his varied deliveries benefiting each song’s story and never overpowering the arrangements. With songs like “Revisited,” “Surrender” and “Refuge” almost adopting melody lines similar to those of old standards, it would be so easy for a lesser singer to do variations on crooning for nine songs, but Silberman’s singing is far too heartfelt for that nonsense. It would likewise be easy to describe his singing as operatic or theatrical, but all vocal decisions feel as though they are coming from a pure, uncalculated place.

ON TOUR: Aug 17 — Part of Musicfest NW, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland; www.ticketfly.com or 877-435-9849.

— Maria Schurr,

PopMatters.com