The Dutch band Lewsberg make music that spills over multiple genres. Their presence on the 12XU imprint might give you an idea that this is a noise band, but you'd be wrong. Out and About, the new record from this quartet, is spry and light as air in spots. And it's loaded with melodies too.
"Without a Doubt" glides around on a faint hook, the instruments sort of creating a playful mood around the multiple vocal-lines, while "Going Places" is a similarly nimble bit of business. These tracks, and many others here on Out and About find the players using faintly folk-y patterns, or naive New Wave keyboards to anchor these to your ears. And a listener would have to be a miserable person to not find joy within these grooves. "Canines" has a vibe not unlike early Go-Betweens, but most of this stuff is sort of upbeat in its own wonderfully unique way.
I found parts of this of a mood with Modern Lovers or Velvet Underground, but this is really sort of its own thing. Last time I reviewed a Lewsberg album I reached for Fall and Feelies comparisons too. Still, there's nothing too heavy here, and the nimble hooks sort of spring up and bounce around while the instruments chart clever paths around them, or juxtapose against them. This is melodic, but it's almost as if Lewsberg are fighting against being too accessible even as they are making some of the most flat-out charming music you're going to hear this month.
Out and About by Lewsberg is out now via 12XU.
[Photo: Tommy Ventevogel]