Whenever summer rolls around you always hope to find that “summer album”. You know, that record you put on and open the windows to breathe in some of that fresh air. Free your mind of whatever’s been bugging you and just soak up some catchy, breezy tunes. It’s the the road trip album. The album you pull at least three or four songs off of and put on mixes for your less music savvy friends. And there’s at least two or three of those timeless songs that seem to live in their own little musical universe. They can exist within the times we currently live in, or 40 years ago in some other life. Maybe it’s not what you’d consider a classic, but it’s classic for the moment you’re existing in right now.
I have found that album, and it’s Beach Fossil’s excellent Somersault.
I wasn’t all that into Beach Fossils’ self-titled debut LP. You could hear the songwriting chops, but the production made the songs sound distant to my ears. But in 2013 Dustin Payseur and a new line-up released the excellent Clash The Truth. It was a warm and fuzzy collection of post-punk and early 80s alternative sounds, like old R.E.M. mixing it up with Joy Division. It was one of my favorite albums of 2013. Now, four years later we have Somersault. It’s a collection of tight, soulful tunes that often take the form of inner city confessionals. There’s something very modern and current with this record, yet there’s also this early 70s vibe that makes you think of gritty, Red Hook streets and Brownstones hiding a summer sunset.
“This Year” is the grand entrance to the world of Somersault. It cascades through the speakers like the Byrds and Blue Oyster Cult hammering it out during an evening of watershedding ghosts and vices. It’s perfection. “Tangerine” slinks in quickly like a pleasant memory through an open window as you light up another cigarette. Payseur really shows his writing chops here, with a mix of angst-y rhythmic constructs and almost jazz-inflected chord changes. Yet despite the technical prowess the song flows like a classic from another time. It helps that Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell helps out in the vocal department. Another classic sounding track is “Saint Ivy”. Loping groove, tasteful strings, and Payseur’s sleepy vocal delivery bring to mind old label mate Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum’s masterful turns on last year’s Life of Pause. There’s even one hell of a flute solo. Seriously, tasteful. This whole album feels like a well fussed-over summer classic.
Elsewhere “May 1st” might remind one of those New Jersey cats Real Estate. There’s a melancholy lean in there that Martin Courtney and company like to work up in nearly every one of their tracks, but Beach Fossils let the song breathe and roam as it may. It’s carefree, not fussed over. “Rise” is a quick number with Memphis rapper Cities Aviv taking the spotlight. One of the absolute highlights for me is the exquisite “Down The Line”. It pulls back a bit and lets the bass take the lead with guitar coming in for some tasteful accompaniment. It feels like an ode to the city streets that make the band what it is. It could be an ode to a lover, a friend, or the city itself. Regardless, there’s some real feeling here. “Be Nothing” is like a cross between Jane’s Addiction and The Church, with that bass leading the track into crystalline sonics. “That’s All for Now” goes back to the early days of Beach Fossils, but with a more confident vibe.
Fade to black.
Beach Fossils have given me that great summer album I’ve been waiting for(still digging you, Real Estate.) Somersault from start to finish is a beauty. It has that feeling of deja vu, as if you heard it in another life. Like some ghostly album delivered to you by a giving universe. Dustin Payseur has made his best record yet.
8.4 out of 10
This sounds like one I need to move to the top of my list to look for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say most definitely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You need a summer album, I vote you get Tuns!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIfRhSuwo3-On3Msj06oiJQ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Listening to “I Can’t Wait Forever”. Holy crap this is good!!
LikeLike
Oh yes. Check your inbox…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is this a Sloan-related project? “Mind Over Matter” has a face that looks familiar.
LikeLike
Yup! Sharp eye!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks to the Tuns recommend I just found Andy Shauf. Holy crap ‘The Party’ is an amazing album!
LikeLike
Yes it is! The wins just keep rolling in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy mackerel, I am really digging these tracks. Sweet summery fun indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great album! Summer jams!
LikeLike
This sounds very good. Very good indeed! Though Scotland doesn’t do summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What? I heard last year, your summer was on a Tuesday. Did it actually not happen that day? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, Tuesday is the day we get a little sun in the afternoon. We haven’t had summer since 2010.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the early 90s, I once spent three weeks in your fine country during summer and had many lovely days. Sunshine, warm air… I wonder what happened in 2010?
LikeLike
Many lovely days of sunshine and a three week summer! You sure you were in Scotland!? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, I’m fairly certain it was Scotland. Friendly people down the pub, rolling green hills, lots of rolled ‘rrr’s’… yup, the passport stamp said Scotland. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You do lots of overcast skies and rain over there don’t you? I can see how Boards of Canada got their sound.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s it exactly. Our summers are very much like Boards of Canada. You can hear that in most of the music from here, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really need to make it to Scotland someday. It seems like a place I would quite like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, there’s some dang fine craft ales and I know where you can get some real good tortilla chips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Summer album?! Don’t you own ‘South of Heaven’?!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s more of a late summer/early fall album. Something to ring in the dead leaves and longer nights with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dead Leaf Mask?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly.
LikeLiked by 1 person