Oliver Future’s new album, Pax Futura, evokes familiar elements: Lead vocalist Noah Lit has a Bowie-like style and sensibility, a twisting of expectations, pace and lyrics.  The band displays its Austin roots through the guitar of Sam Raver, and Jesse Ingalls’ bass keeps heads bobbing, making Oliver Future’s music ultimately danceable.  Josh Lit, on vocals, keys, and sounds, creates a mysterious lining to the music, while Jordan Richardson on drums plays with contagious energy.

Up-and-coming bands tend to display an obvious void, whether it’s a musician lacking in skill relative to the others, a mismatching approach among its members, a song that had its moments but missed something overall, a simple questionable choice here and there, like lyrics, beat, etc…you name it.

None of it applies to Oliver Future.  The band plays confidently and maturely, sure of every sound and addition, deferring to each other’s strengths like a jazz outfit.  It’s a remarkably cohesive group, and they seem to genuinely enjoy playing together, an obvious strength to any band, but one too many lack.