Big Search, the name given to the project by Matt Popieluch to his solo project, is releasing his sophomore release Slow Fascination. Having played with the likes of Cass McCombs, Glasser, and Sky Ferreira, Popieluch also used to front the band Foreign Born. While fronting the band they had the privilege to tour with Grizzly Bear, which ultimately resulted in Grizzly Bear’s frontman Ed Droste lend backing vocals to one of the tracks on Slow Fascination. The album also includes contributions by The Shins’ James Mercer and Kacey Johansing.
The album opens with “Slow Motion Train”, which contains power pop laden melodies in the vein of Big Star and The Posies. The bright and airy pop melodies continue on “’Til the Day is Done” with beautiful vocals that give that permeate throughout the album. “Here Comes the Night” treats the listener with backing vocals from Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear fame. Though the song sounds lively and up-tempo the lyrics carry a sense of foreboding and anxiety as Popieluch sings ‘Under the pillow, across the sea/ You will not find me/ The enemy’. The album takes a downturn in tempo with the folky “Love Anew”. This dynamic carries through most of later part of the album. “What to Say” stands out as one of the most beautifully crafted songs on the album with rambling piano melodies and strings highlighting Popieluch’s vocals akin to Harry Nilsson. The album closes with another dreamy track called “Good People Round”. The track reminds the listener that whatever we are going through, there are good people that are there to help you get through it.
On Slow Fascination, Popieluch delivers a bright and uplifting album. Though it is tinged throughout with melancholy and despair, the message seems to be that there is always a way out. Popieluch has a great vocal styling and it is enhanced on this album with the addition of Droste, Mercer and Johansing providing backing vocals on many of the songs.
