Producer/composer
Frank Maston
's albums are insular wonderlands of nostalgia and tension, springboarding over the years from a healthy fixation with
Beach Boys
-derived orchestral pop into something more closely resembling moody '70s film soundtracks or library music.
Maston
's primarily instrumental compositions were already rich with atmosphere and character, but enlisting Swiss quintet
L'Eclair
as his backing band for
Souvenir
, he's crafted his most fully realized work yet. The eight tracks here breeze by quickly, but the combination of
's detail-oriented arrangements and
's tight chemistry as a live band gives every track layers of musical depth and personality. There are still hints of all the reference points
mined on earlier albums. Opening track "L'Eau Bleue" ambles by lightly, riding a beachy groove and sprinkling in vibraphone melodies and soft strings designed for a mellow drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. "Cafe Collonge" is lazy and loping, trading runs of tropical flute melodies and loungey synth leads over a restrained funk groove.
's homages to his various inspirations have always been intricate and enjoyable, but there's something new clicking into place on
. The combination of
's locked-in performances and some of
's more engaging compositional work give the album an unbroken flow that's at once exciting and relaxed. Several vocal tunes break up the instrumental fare, among them the dreamy "Do You Feel It Working," (a song modeled after the songs chillwave was modeled after) and "The Doors Are Opening," a synth-heavy fantasy where
Harry Nilsson
sits in with
Broadcast
in a session co-produced by
Van Dyke Parks
and
Portishead
.
is a collection of shimmering sounds tied together with thoughtful songwriting, continuing
's smart confluence of specific influences while upgrading his sound considerably. ~ Fred Thomas