The ever eclectic Animal Collective, Lisbon-based frontman Noah Lennox’s first solo album for five years is an oddly reflective but rather beautiful heartbreak album, one coming out of his divorce, but rich in many styles, from Beach Boys vocal harmonies to reggae, Latin to disco, jaunty 70s pop to psychedelia. His Animal Collective bandmates join him at various times, as well as the innovative Canadian artist Cindy Lee adding guitar, and Spirit of the Beehive’s Rivka Ravede. Instant standout and former Song of the Day Ferry Lady has a fabulous, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry clip-clop rhythm vibe, trumpets and an engaging melody, and on the second track, Anywhere But Here, his daughter adds some Portuguese spoken word, while Lennox sings telling lines such as: ““I can’t let go, can’t say goodbye / A residue in spite of you.” Next up, 50mg has sunny, flangy 70s pop feel, and Ends Meet swoons with a catchy syncopated rhythm. Heartbreak until this point feels glass half full and full of sunshine, but from Venom’s In, the energy slows to more mournful pace, (“soon it’s all over, can’t get much lower”), even though this shade is still rather exquisite, if painful. Things do get dark, Left In The Cold descending into a woozy, psychedelic haze, Elegy For Noah Lou is even bleaker, with a minimalistic broken-up sadness, but final track Defense has gorgeous Cindy Lee guitar to this slow stepping march of loss – “what’s it become?”. Darkly inventive, heartbreak is difficult, but in Lennox’s hands it’s thing a thing of beauty. Out on Domino Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Whether it’s about this or others, feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running.