Shady Lane do little to cloak their influences. Familiar sounds rocket from their lively pop like fireworks into the night sky. Irritatingly derivative? Miraculously, no. The light show does just what it should: incite delight. First up is the irreverent 90s college radio vibe of Sparklehorse or Pavement.
Both the glo-fi shimmer of Animal Collective and the bittersweet hush of Atlas Sound are recalled on ‘Easybeast’ while the hypnotic guitar and keys on ‘Dumb Hope’ channel Stereolab. ‘Fluff n Stuff’ lobs acid jazz into the blender with surf pop and ‘Mother Mountain Rabbit’ could file under either noise-rock or experimental. Meanwhile, a couple of Farfisa organ wig-outs a la Pink Floyd pre-1970 fizzle away in the party punch. You know, just for fun.
[rating:3.5]
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