Summer Salt
Sequoia Moon

There’s something about summer that changes the way we process things. Could it be the heat signaling to our brains that carefree days are ahead? Or, does it signal the promise of starting anew and discovering ourselves all over again? Summer Salt investigates both of these questions on Sequoia Moon, produced by Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes). What the band does well on this record is to channel the carefree days of sitting by the ocean and letting all the other worries melt away. For newcomers to the band, the vibes felt on this album are similar to Vacationer, Two Door Cinema Club, and JR JR. Look no further for the album that could very well be your soundtrack to this summer.

One of the first things you’ll notice as you hit play on the opening track of “Clover” is just how great the textured guitars and soothing vocals are for the overall listening experience. Things rarely change the vibe felt here as you unfold through the collection of songs found on the front half. “Hocus Pocus” is a great example of the sound Summer Salt were going for on this album, and singer/guitarist Matthew Terry sings passionately on the chorus, “I don’t seem to really care, anymore / So here’s a lock to keep the creaks from the door / I don’t seem to really care / About the guilt pent / Minor details I was missin’ / The way the autumn breeze had kept me waking up sniffling / Hocus pocus if I care.” The feelings are infectious on this great song, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in their sound.

The first single, “Monday’s Facil” is nicely sequenced in the middle of the record, and does little to change the immaculate vibes brought forth in the speakers. Terry continues to be as captivating as ever in his vocal delivery, and drummer Eugene Chung creates a jazzy sound to pair with his front-man’s soothing voice.

Some of the more reflective tracks like “Lewa Lani” and “Feather Fall” bring the tempo down to a sleepier level, but songs like “Trouble in Paradise” set the album back on the right track. One of my favorites in the set comes in the form of a majestic “Two Of a Kind,” that has harmonies that even The Beach Boys would be jealous of.

If this record has faults, it comes in the form of the songs getting too comfortable with each other, and by that I mean that the song structures are largely similar throughout. While some may argue this makes for a more cohesive listening experience, I personally would have preferred some more variety in song tempos (especially on the faster side) to balance out some of the tracks that tend to be more drawn out in length. Overall, there’s plenty to enjoy on Sequoia Moon, and I’m sure I’ll come back to the record often throughout this ultra-hot season.