The Earlies, These Were The Earlies (Peacefrog) 9+

With two members each from Texas and England, composing songs by swapping fragments across the Atlantic years before ever meeting, The Earlies appropriately merge traditions of Texas psychedelic freaks the Red Krayola, Euphoria, The 13th Floor Elevators and Butthole Surfers with more up-to-date English psychedelia and electronica. The result sounds more like the orchestral pop of Mercury Rev circa the mid-90s and Spiritualized. These Were The Earlies avoids sounding dated by mixing in electronic beats and whooshes amongst the woodwinds, sawtooths, euphonium and Chinese puzzle bass, like a less dense Manitoba. Brandon Carr’s vocals are somewhat limited, but he knows this and keeps the melodies short and simple, like the Delgados augmented with Beach Boys harmonies. The lyrics are fittingly dreamy and metaphysical, such as “Slow Man’s Dream” and “One Of Us Is Dead.” The only shortcoming is despite the sweet tunefulness, the songs sometimes break down into pure soundscapes before they seem finished.

Fortunately these washes of inventive sound are almost always breathtaking. Pianos warble, orchestras rise and collapse with a sigh. And once the sounds are introduced and influences identified, repeated listens reveal this to be a very special album. More fragments of lyrics sink in, revealing yearning for home, wide-eyed wonder and uplifting joy. But not in the overbearing way that The Polyphonic Spree tries to bulldoze you with. Song after song, from “Wayward Song,” “Slow Man’s Dream” to “25 Easy Pieces”, The Earlies demonstrate a masterful balance of subtlety and bombast that rivals The Flaming Lips and Super Furry Animals. These Were The Earlies will integrate itself into your routines, as its beauty enhances your enjoyment of sights and sensations like the moon’s reflection in the water, the summer air caressing like warm silk.