Moon Duo
Circles (Sacred Bones)
Reviewed by Adam Schragin, Fri., Oct. 12, 2012
Moon Duo
Circles (Sacred Bones)Three years ago, Wooden Shjips guitarist Ripley Johnson left his already spacey environs and pulled into his orbit Sanae Yamada for a psychedelic pairing that combines the fuzz and wandering tendencies of grand space rock with friendlier vibes. Think a heavier Vaselines, maybe, or the Jesus & Mary Chain after an analog synthesizer binge and a good day at the beach. Moon Duo's sophomore album Circles arrived after a "long winter's isolation in the Rocky Mountains," but it unfolds warm and inviting. Programmed drums pulse sweetly alongside synth hums, and on the title track, the best pieces of post-psychedelia are twisted into a pop beast that unravels like an inspired Velvet Underground retread. Ultimately, Circles updates a few beloved sounds that rarely sound as at home as they do here. (1:20pm, Austin Ventures stage)
