Mellow

Another Mellow Spring

(Atmospheriques)

Part melodic fuzz, part depressing surf guitar, part disco-minded and part Pink Floyd, French band Mellow has just released one of the most intriguing albums of the year.

The lyrical pattern of “Paris Sous La Neige” pitter patters along like the vocal patterns of laid-back rock all-stars Pavement, while the happy-go-lucky chorus sounds like Beck trying to replicate the Brady Bunch theme song - this is good.

These innocent futuristic power-pop lads surprise the listener in a different sense in each tune.

Though it is obvious this band paints pictures with the psychedelia of the late 1960s, their mix with contemporary electronica leaves their canvasses painted with abstract murals of the past, present and future.

The keyboards nearly mimic a Natalie Merchant piece during “Sun Dance,” but out-of-place samples and a drummer who taps the skins only for blues-esqe fills compliments the track’s new age theme.

“Violet” is a classic “do-de-do-de-do”-type song with a rhythm that encourages heads to rock back and forth while singing along and smiling from ear to ear.

From the analogue pulses and bad trip discordance of “Lovely Light” through the low-key refrains of “Mellow,” this is an album that oozes hazy summer warmth, soaked in fine wine and various chemicals.