Artist: Midnite on Pearl Beach

Artist: Midnite on Pearl Beach

Links: https://www.facebook.com/MidniteOnPearlBeach

http://midniteonpearlbeach.bandcamp.com/

Although Midnite On Pearl Beach's Lamplighter opens with ambient synths and worldly strings, it's the track's pulsing bass, slinky guitar riff, and falsetto vocal that seep “Deep In Your Bones.” As soothing starters go, it's right up there with Air's “Playground Love (With Gordon Tracks).” Track two follows suit, “Freedom (Is a State of Mind)” introducing gauzy backing vocals and cool blues licks (e.g. :50).

But it is “Modern Gods” that's an early indicator of the Midnite to come. Justin Jahnke's verse vocals are impeccable – they're singular, charismatic, and appealing to our deeply-suppressed instinct to chill. This otherwise down-tempo track is funked up by an interlude (e.g. 1:12) that's as good as the transition back into the verse (e.g. 1:27). Heck, it even ends well (at 3:00).

Appropriately then, there are niceties tucked everywhere on Lamplighter: the transcendent bridge of “A Cold Sun” (at 1:34); the horn-laced, background vocal phrasing of “One Foot Left” (at 1:06); the upright bass, trickling keys (1:40), and layered guitar intricacy of “Wilderness” setting up its memorable hook (at :57) and ascendent embellishment (the “ah-oh-ah-oh” of 2:25).

The standout for me though is “Common and Line.” Set in Shreveport, the song regales us with tales of a “shell of a building on Common and Line,” a peculiar structure akin to Hotel California – in a song as funky as “Love Shack.” Hand claps keep time as Jahnke struts over a bouncy bassline colored in by organ, with a speedy vocal phrasing recalling “Silvio”-vintage Bob Dylan. [The character of Jahnke's vocal is normally closer to Ryan Adams (but given Adams' notoriously varied delivery, that might not tell you much).]

For a sampling of Midnite, check that sequence a couple minutes in (“Common and Line” at 2:07): Jahnke's vocal delivery of “long”; a subtle bassline that transitions to a stop; this instrumental cutout spotlighting Jahnke's vocal. All this in a song that goes on to introduce song-appropriate harmonica, and ends by playing keys against rhythm section. Excellent.

So don't miss Midnite On Pearl Beach. It's one not to be missed. (Even if you currently find yourself closer to Oak Street Beach.)

*** The author of this review, Dennis Turner, plays the requinto for the following band: http://youtu.be/tMS73-1kCr8