Avey Tare - Cows On Hourglass Pond

7.1

On Cows On Hourglass Pond, Animal Collective's co-founder Avey Tare seems barely inspired and in a constant mood for repetition of his already-known formula while creating psychedelic pop-soul. And the record suffers not because of what it is, but because of what it could have been.

Highlights

- Avey Tare's great take onto eerie, moody and heavily delirious micro-sounds.

- The album's motifs and cinematic sketches all throughout.

Lowlights

- It turns out to be more of the same after the first half.

- Avey's voice seems dull and unimaginative; as if lacking distinction and energy.

Standouts

- What's The Goodside?

- Nostalgia In Lemonade

- Saturdays (Again)

Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

8.8

Natalie Mering's latest album as Weyes Blood is her most cinematic and gorgeously arranged by a mile. The turbid lyrics contrast fantastically with the lush instrumentation to create material that can easily compete with the best pop-rock of the late 60s and early 70s. Titanic Rising is immaculate; an overall triumph for form and music.

Highlights

- Natalie's voice gives character, drama and passion to all the tracks where it's involved.

- The instrumentals feel opressed but thinly orchestrated, and the mixture of them swells you into a gigantic hole of sound and pace.

- The lyricism is cryptic and at-the-point, fulled with queasy anecdotes and sharp metaphors.

Lowlights

- At times, it feels like some songs could have used a bit more of diversity in lyrics and harmonies.

Standouts

- Everyday

- Andromeda

- Movies

Country: USA

Released: April 5, 2019

Length: 42:28

Panda Bear - Buoys

7.7

Indietronica legend Panda Bear lays back and dives fully into bassy atmospherics on Buoys, an album that's as inoffensive and unseen as heavily textured (aquatic, nautical, porous and airy, but also lethargic, remorseful, sly and gloomy).

Highlights

- Once again: textures.

- The cocky attention to detail in the most serene parts of the record.

- Unmistakably Panda Bear-ish in layers, tones, themes and breathy executions.

Lowlights

- Some tracks fall excessively numb and strolled around.

- Lyrics get too cryptic at times to understand them and/or enjoy them.

Standouts

- Dolphin

- Token

- Cranked

Country: USA/Portugal

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 31:02

Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?

6.5

For every alluring step Deerhunter brings up somewhere, there's another questionable one they take elsewhere; in conclusion, this is a messy album that has solid ideas but overall flaccid executions.

Highlights

- The trembling instrumentals give the record pace, nerve and personality.

- It's interesting to juxtapose the sordid lyrics with the sepia-infuced vibrance and atmosphere.

- Some songs' melodies are impossible to resist.

Lowlights

- Out of the ten ideas presented here, only half of them leave great impressions.

- There might be too much space left for instrumental interludes.

- Détournement must be Deerhunter's worst idea in their career.

Standouts

- No One's Sleeping

- What Happens To People?

- Element

Country: USA

Released: January 18, 2019

Length: 36:09