Lemuria

The Distance Is So Big (Bridge 9)

Lemuria refuses to settle for the easy hook. The Buffalo trio produces slacker-lilted jams on command, yet across this third LP, they disrupt and overturn tunes into jittery, unnerved digressions intended to unhinge an apathetic audience. The sputtering “Brilliant Dancer” charms behind Sheena Ozzella’s tweaking vocals only to erupt into a flurry of unexpected rhythms that manages to hold together nonetheless, while “Clay Baby” spins on Alex Kerns’ almost Malkmus-ian vocals and lyrics further conjuring the Nineties indie ethos. Ozzella and Kerns match and meld more effectively than previous efforts, most notably on the understated “Paint the Youth” and surging “Chihuly.” Frenetic pop-punk washes away on “Oahu, Hawaii,” yet even there Lemuria’s subterfuge emerges in the softly lilted line, “There’s a lot of islands in Hawaii.” (Sunday, 12:30pm, Orange stage)

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This article appears in November 8 • 2013.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.