A fourth studio LP of dreamy, exotic, alluring psychedelia and surf rock by the California quartet fronted by Shana Cleveland, simmering and potent, but made in the dark shadow of a breast cancer ordeal. Cleveland’s health problems, diagnosed when her child was only two, would upend most careers, but out of this crisis, she has made one her LPs yet with band, inspired by the change of consciousness from a life-threatening situation, the work of science fiction author Octavia E. Butler, with the album title echoing a collection of metaphysical poetry. There’s a sense of disquiet and change, albeit a beautiful one, not to mention urgency for many reasons, as well with change of personnel the departure of drummer Audrey Johnson and the final performance from longtime members bassist Lena Simon and keyboardist Alice Sandahl. In the rippling exoticism of the sound, change is the only certainty as Cleveland sings in the title track, which begins in a frenetic pace before settling into a psychedelic, eastern flavour. There are many standouts to enjoy, from the rich vocal harmonies of opener Reaching Up To The Sun, the rippling drums and fuzz guitars of Strange World, the sexy swagger but then slow, dreamy melancholy of Poppies, which opens with the lines: “Woke up with a memory / The soundtrack for a tender scene / I didn't wanna leave it in a dream,” or the gentle closer Blue Jay, in which Cleveland imagines an enduring love for her young son even if she doesn’t survive her illness. Gorgeous, tender and moving work. Out on Sub Pop.
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