#shearwater

My Dusted review of The Great Awakening described it as “a lengthy, reflective and beautiful record that mostly steers away from the more rock-oriented sound of Shearwater’s last two releases.” The New World pares things back even further. Aside from the strident climax of anthemic centerpiece “The Only Sound I’m Afraid Of,” reminiscent of Talk Talk’s “Desire,” most of these nine songs are relatively restrained. The players explore the particular feel of a set of piano or guitar chords and a laidback rhythm, then settle into a hazy, impressionistic groove. Opener “Even Song” is especially slow burning, simmering but never boiling over, a bright acoustic guitar chord chiming out once, then dissipating into field recordings of birds and church bells.

Given Meiburg’s side gig as a naturalist, it’s unsurprising to find song titles “A Mink in the Dusk,” “The High Ranges,” “Slugs in the Marigolds,” and “You and Your Dog” among the track names. The most explicit lyrical reference to man’s troubled relationship with the environment comes in early highlight “More and More”: “To slake one appetite / You’ll kill a million cultivars.” This sense of mourning a world that’s already doomed is also apparent on penultimate track “Anamnesia” as Meiburg eerily intones “Wait…” during the fade-out.

Despite the somewhat dejected atmosphere, there are also welcome moments of defiance and resolution, such as the pounding single “Daydream Unbeliever,” plus Laurie Anderson’s wonderfully weathered narration on closing track, “You and Your Dog.” Amid piano arpeggios that sound like sunlight sparkling on water, we’re left with a cautionary tale: “I guess this is it… I wish I’d paid more attention / And I thought these days were going to go on forever…”