At Moonset

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Randomly tapped keys of a twinkly toy piano coated in dreamy delay are the first sounds on At Moonset, the debut album from Seattle indie pop quartet Flying Fish Cove. This airy evocation only lasts a few seconds before album-opener "Johnny Paper" comes in with a zippy bass groove, but it serves to set the tone for an album that's split evenly into hemispheres of wistful nostalgia and strange, otherworldly lyrical landscapes. Based around the songs of singer/guitarist Dena Zilber, At Moonset transcends the usual indie pop fare of unrequited romance and restless ennui, crafting a world of curious poetic narratives backed by brilliantly catchy indie songcraft. Zilber's colorful dreamscapes can be as fantastical as the upbeat and prancing "Manticore" or as everyday as the introspective wandering of "Sleight of Hand." Musically, the band draws on inspiration from the greats of understated indie pop, with hints of Camera Obscura's dreamy melodicism, Belle & Sebastian's chamber pop touches, and the grittiness of Dolly Mixture or Heavenly. Frankie Cosmos bandleader Greta Kline makes an appearance adding guest vocals on "Johnny Paper," and the abrupt tempo shifts and jagged melodies of "Bob & Sylvie" share some of Kline's structural sensibilities. Flying Fish Cove never stay in one mode for too long, exploring surfy fuzz on "Dangerous Words," drifting synthy psychedelia on "Belladonna," and a kitchen-sink arrangement on "Cammy the Camry." The various styles of At Moonset are kept consistent by Zilber's prismatic lyrics and unexpected melodic turns. Many of the songs have lyrics so dense only a few unconventional words jump out at first listen. Delving deeper into Zilber's internal world is one of the many rewarding layers of At Moonset that reveal themselves with repeated listening. Immediately heavy on hooks and charm, Flying Fish Cove become more intriguing and strange the closer you look. ~ Fred Thomas