It's been a couple of years since the last album from SAVAK, but the band's not slowed down. No, judging from their energy on Human Error / Human Desire, the group's been revving up in the down-time. This new release, out now on Ernest Jenning Record Co., is fiery and invigorating every second of its length.
"No Blues No Jazz" marries a Dischord-in-the-Nineties agitation with forceful playing, while the wondefully catchy "Empathy" rides in on a hook that wouldn't have been out of place on an R.E.M. record. The track is smart and heartfelt in the very right way, and it seems an updating of the sort of American indie that so many of us loved in earlier eras. Comparisons to Jawbox and Superchunk here wouldn't be out of place, if you know what I mean. Elsewhere, "Trashing the Ghost" made me think of The Smithereens a bit, even if the mood is more East Coast. It features Geoff Sanoff (Dot Dash producer, among many credits) after all. SAVAK do this kind of thing extremely well, and on Human Error / Human Desire they show how well they can do it while making things a bit more accessible (in a good way).
There are, however, some riskier tracks here. "Baltimore Moon" is a moody ramble, guitar jumping between choppy hooks and more expansive answers to the supple rhythm section work. Near that is "Adolescence Obsolete", a short stroll through territory both art rock and proggy, with the players here coalescing around a variety of subtle hooks with all the naturlness of Talking Heads in 1980. And while all the members of SAVAK and the various guests deserve plenty of praise, we circle back to Geoff Sanoff, the producer with the band of this one. Human Error / Human Desire has a clean, smart sound, where things are pop in ways that don't sacrifice any moment that feels edgier and arty. There's something That Petrol Emotion about this record. And for those of you who remember that band, you'll know exactly the kind of compliment that's intended to be.
Human Error / Human Desire is out now via Ernest Jenning Record Co..
More details on SAVAK via the official site.
[Photo: Taylor Sesselman]