Guster- Evermotion (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Through the creation of delectable and utterly infectious tunes, Guster have forged a pretty impressive career. Flying the flag for mainstream indie-pop, tracks like ‘Satellite’, ‘Architects & Engineers’, and ‘Do You Love Me’ are prime examples of the band’s unflustered style and mellow music. On the go for the best part of 24 years, Guster released six albums before Evermotion, their latest effort.

Released via Ocho Mule Records, the LP’s stylistic approach seems to ignore any influences from the band’s previous work. In a very distinct manner, Evermotion displays new artistic dimensions. This is a lively, vivacious exploration of new frontiers, as Guster embraces experimental sounds and techniques that will shock some of their fervently passionate fanbase. An innovative offering, Guster’s newest record builds upon an era of drug-infused recordings, music that was so laid back it was almost horizontal.

By enlisting the services of Shins keyboardist / Black Keys bassist Richard Swift and sax/trombone player Jon Natchez, a man who has worked with The War On Drugs and Passion Pit, Guster consciously sought to craft something new. Moments underlined by deft electronic effects and carefully measured reverb only add to the album’s credibility.

Kicking off with the weightlessly poignant “Long Night,” Guster invite the listener on a voyage complimented by resounding guitars and ever increasing vocals. Swift’s imprint is blatantly obvious; this is basically a Guster take on a Shin’s track. The atmospheric journey continues on “Endlessly,” an ethereal, almost celestial affair. A change in Guster’s creative prowess is evident, and “Simple Machine,” by far the album’s strongest track, highlights this fact. An infectious affair that carries the most buoyant of tempos, this track moves away from the earlier, somewhat ominous tone. Sanguine synths and commanding vocals merge to make this one of Guster’s greatest achievements.

Evermotion is much more than cleverly crafted pop tunes, it’s an amalgamation of complexity and cultured ingenuity. Ryan Miller and Adam Gardner, Guster’s lead singers, have always been lauded for their excellent delivery and lyrical nous. “Doin’ It By Myself” displays these faculties, these intellectual gifts. With lines like “We’re no longer babies/pure, pristine, unbroken” and “The game is fixed/but that’s being alive,” the sombre tone is bolstered by reminiscent, thought provoking lyrics.  The melancholic musings continue on “Kid Dreams,” a track that narrates a lifetime of lost ambitions in just a few minutes; the instrumentals, subtle yet irresistible, display Guster’s evolution and Evermotion’s individuality.

Of late, undeniably, the current indie scene has suffered from unoriginality and lethargic offerings, but Guster, largely thanks to Richard Swift’s influence, create something worth talking about. Sophisticated songwriting and a seasoned sound, Evermotion has injected some spark into a genre that needs all the help it can get.