The New Pornographers
In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights
Concord
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In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights is a clattering, breathless indie rock party. Now, to some that may sound like a fate worse than death, but the record makes a good—if scattered—account of itself. It’s as bright, as colorful, and as fleeting as a fireworks show.
The New Pornographers is a collective—most notably including Neko Case—and that comes across on the record. Although all but one of the tracks were written by A. C. Newman, there’s a bustling quality to their eighth studio affair’s arrangements that works for and against the album at different times.
The general sound comprises the usual suspects of guitar, bass, and drums, which are joined somewhere in the cosmos by strings, keyboards, and synthesizers. Lead vocal duties shift throughout, which gives the harmonies a lovely fluidity when they come.
Newman produced this album himself, and the mix is pretty spacey. This does generally suit the album’s vibe, but also it feels ever so slightly like a crutch. It’s loose to a fault. There’s a lot of energy spinning round on In The Morse Code, but there’s a fair bit breaking off into the ether as well.
The opening few tracks showcase the album’s best qualities. “You’ll Need A New Backseat Driver” jangles out the gates and is then one-upped by “The Surprise Knock,” which hits on an infectious flow. The bassline on “Falling Down The Stairs Of Your Smile” sets an imperious, marauding groove which The New Pornographers riff over marvelously. The album’s nothing if not uninhibited, and that’s really refreshing, at least to start with.
After multiple listens, I’m still not sure if the album’s level drops off after the opening tracks or if the novelty value wears off. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. While early tracks are genuinely uplifting, by the time you get to “Higher Beams” and “Need Some Giants” things have all gotten a bit sugary for my tastes.
On “The Surprise Knock,” Newman has a line about “Drifting like proper castaways.” This captures the album’s spirit pretty well I think—whimsical and untethered, but also a little bit aimless. It feels like a bit of a lost opportunity. You want the group to set their sights on something and go for it, but they never quite get it together.
Notable Tracks: "Colossus Of Rhodes" | “Falling Down The Stairs Of Your Smile” | "The Surprise Knock"
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