It's been four years since the debut full-length from D.C.'s Flasher, and the band's down to a duo now, and moved to the opposite coast. Their new record, out on Domino on Friday, is called Love is Yours, and the bright affirmation of that title is met by the glistening sonic surfaces within the grooves of the release. Both a simplification of Flasher's sound, and an expansion of it, this is all pure pleasure.
Like Dummy, another East Coast band moved West, Flasher take a lot of cues from mid-Nineties Stereolab, but with Flasher things never get too space-y. "Little Things" is a gem, the vocals from Emma Barker gliding this one into a special place, while the title cut rides a vibe that's right out of the Air Miami playbook. It's not the first moment here that mines the richness of that post-Unrest act's sound, of course, but Flasher make things feel really fresh at least. "All Day Long" is laconic, vocals from Taylor Mulitz nearly edging this into Pavement territory, even as the riffs gently ape Brotherhood-era New Order (the title of this track should be your first clue).
Love is Yours is a supple record, one which moves with the sort of propulsive grace that's nearly New Wave, but also a bit Too Pure. "I'm Better", for example, has just enough fuzz and sass to keep it from being over-thought, while the soaring "Damage" reveals just how catchy this sort of thing can still be, when played by the right players.
There's a studied simplicity here that I really dig. Love is Yours has a lot of glistening surfaces, with production that seems a bit clean, but there's also a playfulness here that makes the whole thing both catchy and charming. There are less pieces, and less fury, in Flasher's attack now, but more melody. Nearly everything here, even the throwaway bits like "Pink", bleeps and whirrs with purpose. I admire any band that can be this precise, concise, and focused while still sounding like they are having a whole lot of fun. Think New Order, think Air Miami, think Human League, but remember it's Flasher, and this is likely their moment of lift-off.
Love is Yours by Flasher will be out tomorrow on Domino.
[Photo: Will Matsuda]