CANT play the Garrison Friday (October 21). See listing. Rating: NN
Grizzly Bear multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Taylor is a faint, flickering presence on his debut solo album, drifting in and out of a hazy mix of slow-moving synths, syrupy bass lines, skittering beats and rattling percussion. His production has a close-up intimacy that guides the ear to specific details, but that precision suffers from a wider problem – namely, that the melodies aren’t sustained long enough to captivate.
There are a few exceptions: The Edge, Believe and Answer boast more heartfelt vocal performances. The rest, though, is meandering and dull. Acoustic moments nod to Arthur Russell (who appeared on a split 7-inch with CANT), and the beats evoke the recent spate of moody lo-fi synth acts. Taylor isn’t pushing the limits of pop so much as flattening and stretching them out until they evaporate into nothingness. He creates a dreamy mood, but you may not be awake by the end.
Top track: The Edge
