The psych-folk outfit Woods returns with another collection of easy breezy efforts that continue the band’s style, offering pretty instrumentals next to grooving indie rock on Perennials.
The album started with main Woods man Jeremy Earl sending loops he created daily to fellow bandmates Jarvis Taveniere and John Andrews, then the group started writing songs based on those sonic foundations. Connor Gallaher (Pedal Steel) and Kyle Forester (sax, Wurlitzer) also contributed to the final sound, which was recorded and mixed by Taveniere. The album was titled Perennials as Earl called those recurring flowers’, ‘nature’s loops’.
The band deploys a few different styles, but those loops formulate a linking motif to the full album. Seemingly taking inspiration from mid-career Flaming Lips the band adds layers on top of layers of sounds and vocal tricks during the spacey/floating number “Between The Past” while “Double Dream” also plays in these fearless freak-inspired waters adding Gallaher’s pedal steel to the dreamy swirling mix.
Woods goes for a cosmic dance party with “Another Side” using layers of pulsing sounds while “Weep” also keeps up the indie rock fun, mixing driving energy with more spacey warbling. “Little Black Flowers” is a bright dash of sunshiny ’60s pop before the band presents a pair of numbers that stay in the group’s vein, but also feel inspired by ’70s FM radio staples Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac. The single-sounding “Sip of Happiness” and “Day Moving On”, are complete with rich bass work, groovy drumming, and falsetto vocals.
The real highlights for Woods this go around are the four instrumental efforts that each have a distinct vibe yet are linked spiritually. Rather than acting as placeholders they take root as distinct works.
Opener “The Seed” sets the tone of the album with a warbling spacey intro and piano before shifting to a lightly funky wrap and the title track closes things on another bright journey focused again on keyboard work. “White Winter Melody” may be the best of the bunch as the tune waltzes along with serenading guitar lines in an easy rolling fashion via enhanced pedal steel, while “The Wind Again” carries the sweet floating sensations on a gorgeous whistling breeze and electro keys.
Woods’ easy-going vibes and layers of sound win the day with the wistful Perennial.
