Karl Blau
(Kelp Monthly/Marriage Records)
The ultra-prolific Karl Blau's newest album, the pun-ishly titled Nature's Got Away, expertly keeps one foot in the sometimes cloyingly twee world of indie pop, and one in the canon of outstanding, lo-fi songwriting. This isn't always an easy task, as the two are sometimes mutually exclusive - oftentimes, playful indie pop equals over-simplistic lyrics, chord structure and melody. Not so for Mr. Blau, however, as his talent lies in never dumbing down these often-simple songs, played with an evident vigor for performance, and for the simple act of making music.
The album dabbles in slightly damaged art-pop, such as the fuzz bass and yelping vocals of "Carry and Rob." But the early folk-pop minimalism that Beck employed on albums like One Foot in the Grave more dominant, as heard on songs like "Make Love That Lasts." Blau's vocals recall the tuneful melancholy of Smog's Bill Callahan at times, but the music deviates far from that reference point. "Ghostly Appearance" is all reverb and crackling distortion, a ‘60s pop gem, while "That's the Brakes" stretches out for seven minutes into a meandering but enjoyable jam session.
Karl Blau continues to make organic indie-pop rooted in Americana, similar to the work of bands like Lambchop and Saturday Looks Good to Me. But his sound is all his own, and Nature's Got Away is proof positive that his frequent output doesn't mean he's in danger of losing steam any time soon.
Standout Tracks: "Ghostly
Appearance," "Make Love That Lasts" JONAH FLICKER
