August 5–12, 1999

disc quicks|rock/pop

The American Analog Set

The Golden Band
(Emperor Jones)

The Texan kids in The American Analog Set breathe deep the hot Southwestern air and breathe out icy smoke. On their third album they keep still, moving as cautiously as a snake next to a pit. But they find vibrancy in subtle moves, stops and starts. They bounce slowly to their own minimalism, with an inner dreaminess created by Farfisa organ, brushed drumming and barely audible guitar. Singer Andrew Kenny graces each verse with somnambulistic weariness and joy. He can’t believe you woke him to talk about "trying" and "buying" and "life passing you by" (on "The Wait"), but he’s still happy you’re asking. The changes the band has made are small but stunning, adding a phalanx of vibraphone, Eno-like piano and hardly noticeable cello to the quavering mix. That same Farfisa organ, held happily at one note in previous settings, now sounds restless and strained on the four-part "New Drifters," buzzing behind like a swarm of bees or Manzarek droning behind Morrison on "Waiting For The Sun." Ultimately, it’s that California jazz that defines Golden Band. It infiltrates the faux Barney Kessell lines throughout "Drifters," as well as guiding the foreboding "I Must Soon Quit The Scene." Like the mod jazz osmosis of Jim O’Rourke, Sam Prekop or even David Sylvian, American Analog Set quietly blur the lines between dust storm, sunshine-y day and nightmare possibilities with just a flick of a switch.

—a.d. amorosi

The American Analog Set plays with Death Camp For Cutie, Sat., Aug. 7, at Upstairs At Nick’s, 16 S. Second St., 215-928-0665