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)
This article appears in October 12 • 2012.