#doug stuart

The songs are all atmosphere and tone. Uplifting aphorisms wrapped in gossamer webs of electric pianos, synths and string pads with layers of percussion that reveal their intricacies diffidently from beneath the drum kit and bass which drive the songs. “Softened Thoughts” sounds immediately familiar: shuffling beat, walking bass, congas, descending Fender Rhodes riff, reassuring vocals, sweat-less dancing in polite company yes, but company nonetheless.  “Ocean” is pure Astrud Gilberto, Murphy’s voice so airy it almost floats away before reaching the end of each line, the bass a cushion that just fits right, the percussion stuck on the Casio’s “Latin” button, the keyboards that twinkle like poolside tea candles. If it’s slight, it is also enchantingly unironic and thus completely enjoyable 

Feelings does no damage, it exists to target pleasure centers and does so. The influences are the point and yes there’s the Gilberto voice, the Mendes smoothness, the Getz sophisticate sheen but also a lack of Stereolab’s knottiness and the kind of knowingness and look-at-me cleverness of some of the practitioners and fans of whatever round of lounge revivalism is going on now. There is nothing here to take offence at unless you want to split the hairs between anodyne and placebo. Throw open a window, check the trees for buds and let the pigeons coo along with Brijean. Carefree is a feeling we’ve missed and for 33 minutes it makes a welcome cameo.