On paper, Athens, Ga. band Supercluster could be a music nerd’s dream. Mainly composed of members of ’80s jangle-pop group Pylon (whom R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry once claimed were the best band in America) and various members of slightly less name-droppable groups, but all affiliated with the excellent Elephant 6 Collective, which has been home to such legends as Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal, and the Olivia Tremor Control, the latter of which lent a band member for this album. After the untimely death of lead vocalist/guitarist Randall Bewley, Bradford Cox of current indie favourite Deerhunter came in to finish the guitar parts. And fortunately, unlike most supergroups, the music is actually quite good. A warning, though: strap on those hippie moccasins and some bellbottoms first, because these people are hippies. Through and through, this is a psychedelic, groovy, marvy, trippy album, complete with track titles like “Peace Disco Song” and “Sunflower Clock,” and featuring a (surprisingly catchy) song from the viewpoint of a mermaid, these guys are Flower Power to the core. But, fortunately for us, they are extremely talented musicians bringing a ton of experience and an excellent range to the music. Consistent in tone and feel the whole way through, they manage to incorporate their hippie ideals without coming off annoying (a feat in itself) and write a couple of very catchy songs along the way. “Too Many Eights” has a Krautrock drum line, and lets you feel the new wave influence of its primary songwriters. If you can come into this with the mindset that it’s lyrically a little bit silly, this is an album I could appropriately throw up a peace sign and say “Cool, man” to. (Cloud Recordings, www.cloudrecordings.com) David Nowacki
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989