File Under?

Nada Surf

The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy

Barsuk Records

If, twenty years and seven albums in to their tenure as a band, Nada Surf aren’t quite as youthful as they once were, they’ve retained a strong sense of connection to the music of their heyday atop the indie pop charts in the mid nineties. On The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, their latest full length recording for Barsuk, the songs’ lyrics may be more reflective, ruminating on the onset of middle age (“Clear Eye Clouded Mind” and “No Snow on the Mountain”) and casting a backward glance towards departed youth (“Teenage Dreams,” and see “When I Was Young” below). But there’s no bathetic nostalgia here. Rather, the band seems invigorated by the stocktakings. Guitars still crunch with elan, grooves are still propelled with taut energy, and hooks still buoy choruses aplenty. Indeed, the prevailing atmosphere is imbued with a similar zesty ebullience to that found in the power pop on Nada Surf’s earlier albums. Recapturing the enthusiasm of youth while retaining the wisdom of one’s middle years? Sounds like a formula for success, in power pop and in life in general.

Who thought up the idea of of bringing together Los Angeles post-psychedelic artists M. Geddes Gengras and Sun Araw with famed Jamaican reggae vocal group the Congos to record on the latter’s home terrain? Judging by the first track shared via their label’s Soundcloud page (embed below), “Happy Song,” this is yet another inspired collaboration in FRKWYS’ series of inspired collaborations.

From FRKWYS Vol. 9 – Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras meet The Congos – ICON GIVE THANK.

Available April 10th, 2012 from RVNG Intl.

www.igetrvng.com

Released by: RVNG Intl.
Release/catalogue number: FRKWYS09
Release date: Apr 10, 2012

St. Vincent’s Strange Mercy is out now via 4AD.

Do not adjust your set… ahem… monitor. Porcelain Raft’s video for “Something in Between” includes a number of bleary visuals. But once you get over the initial surprise, it because a fetching display of lights and colors. Much the same can be said for the hazy yet supple music crafted by Mauro Remiddi (Porcelain Raft).

“Somewhere in Between” is the B-side to forthcoming single ‘Unless You Speak From Your Heart.’
Out Feb 21st on Secretly Canadian. Porcelain Raft’s full length album, Strange Weekend, is out now.

Wooden Shjips
West
Thrill Jockey

San Franscisco’s Wooden Shjips has released a video for their song “Lazy Bones.” It features an array of post-psych tropes presented in a fast paced and inexorably fluctuating kaleidoscope. It’s a dizzying sensory overload that’s analogous to much of the music on their latest album, West (out now via Thrill Jockey).