Autolux : Transit Transit

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/autoluxtransittransit.jpg" alt=" " />Six years before a new album is a long time to wait, but for Autolux, it was worth it. ...
8.7 TBD
2010 

Autolux : Transit Transit "It’s just about time I gave up on you," croons Eugene Goreshter, in "High Chair", making one remember that you’d begun to wonder if Autolux were ever going to put out another record.  The wait was definitely worth it.

Transit Transit is a well-produced piece of art that is meant to be listened to on headphones; the ear candy will entertain you for hours.  Quirky keyboard beeps and buzzes, guitar feedback and layers of background vocals – all fit perfectly behind the simplistic yet well-crafted songs.  Drum loops, so affected that they just sound like clicks and hisses, pass beneath the acoustic drums and side-to-side, washing up nostalgic waves of Massive Attack (QRO album review).  For all the effects, the result is always controlled, even sometimes muted, not letting the feedback squeal too loudly in your ears, and not holding out the dissonant chords too long before returning to ear pleasing melodies.  Autolux know how to ride the line between noisy attack of Sonic Youth (QRO live review) and the dreamy wash of My Bloody Valentine.

The opener, "Transit Transit", is psychedelic heaven, soft vocals blending perfectly, almost impossible to differentiate between male and female.  Orchestral harmonies bend in and out of tune, horns and keyboards lulling you into an Autolux dream trance.  "Census" brings back the familiar sounds of Future Perfect.  While minimalistic at first, abrasive guitar tones turn trebly, and warbling, noisy, dissonant chords build into a swell of intense chaos before dropping into a beautiful, lulling, warped interlude that blends perfectly into the next song.

Autolux draws heavily on influences from the ‘60s in Transit Transit, complete with the occasional "Ba ba ba" and "Oo oo oo."  "Spots" features Beatles-esque vocal melodies with piano and strings that could have come straight from Abbey Road.  The haunting harmonies in "Supertoys", while being reminiscent of "Subzero Fun" are definitely inspired by the tradition of Pink Floyd’s "Astronomy Domine".  While showing their influences, Autolux never stray too far from the sound and feel that they established on Future Perfect, a sound that is entirely Autolux, but with the years has emerged more thoughtful and mature.

Every time you play this record you hear things that you missed the time before.  It gives you the feeling that this is the type of record that will grow on you with each listen.  Hopefully we don’t have to wait another six years for the next record, but if it’s anywhere as good as this one, it will be worth it.

MP3 Stream: "High Chair"

{audio}/mp3/files/Autloux – High Chair.mp3{/audio}

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