(Sub Pop) CD, LP

The third installment from the band based around the New Zealand-settled, California born, Ryan McPhun. On Fight Softly, the quirkiness is more distilled and the oh-so-ubiquitous Animal Collective pastiche more apparent; but it stands strong with its reputable melodic arc and production – and a vocal grace that doesn’t sound flat – a near anomaly in the world orbiting around “chillwave” (ahem). McPhun coos in styles which periodically allude David Longstreth (Dirty Projectors) and Panda Bear (see the opening half of “Cranberry”!). Meanwhile “Haunted House” is so well tailored with its rollarskate-disco-ball esteem, it sounds like it’s chasing heavy on the tail of an Arthur Russell record, namely: World of Echo. Aces to that.

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