Rating: NNNN
Part of the inspiration behind Vetiver’s fifth album was singer Andy Cabic’s walks around the Richmond district of San Francisco. The buzzy California psych-rockers are certainly in no hurry on the mellow, atmospheric songs bookmarking the disc.
Treading territory similar to Wilco’s and working with producer Thom Monahan, they layer drum machine, vintage keyboard, organs and strings atop acoustic folk-rock textures and Cabic’s soothing vocals.
The band is at its most engaging, however, in the faster-paced mid-section. Can’t You Tell is almost electronic, while Hard To Break is like a modern take on the Byrds. Shakers and rim sounds propel Fog Emotion, and Ride Ride Ride is, no surprise, a great car song.
Top track: Right Away
