Sun & Shade is the sixth album from this Brooklyn-based psychedelic pop duo. On it, they continue to showcase their strong pop sensibilities, fondness for polyrhythmic percussion, and a penchant for folky atmospheric jams. The structure of most of these songs are straightforward, but the delivery isn’t. Woods’ aesthetic involves falsetto vocals, understated melodies, often-acoustic guitars, and beat-driven songs.
They break the mold twice on this album with a couple of lengthy folk jams. The seven-minute “Out of the Eye,” which comes at the beginning of the album features a propulsive bass melody and a definite sense of progression towards a climactic final minute. The nine-minute “Sol y Sombra,” the album’s centerpiece, is a slow moving, meditative piece with a rustic beat, soft acoustic guitars, and soft electric guitar notes wailing out over everything.
My biggest issue with Sun & Shade—and it’s actually rather minor—is how abruptly many of these songs end. They carry a degree of momentum right up until the end, but they’ll stop on a dime. It isn’t a huge buzzkill because these songs are delightful while they’re playing, but it would be nice if they gave a sense of closure. This is true of much of what I’ve heard from this band.
Perhaps I’m making something out of nothing, though. This is 44 minutes of bubbly psych pop, but it has more depth than those inadequate descriptors may suggest. It’s rhythmically complex, often hypnotic, and generally catchy. Woods throw in some moments of experimentation (the longer tracks), which fit in nicely, and keep things varied, but they do the pop stuff incredibly well. It’s an incredibly fun listen.
