Bishop Allen’s indie-prep credentials are perhaps even more extreme than Vampire Weekend’s, considering that the band’s core of Justin Rice (QRO interview) and Christian Rudder met while at Harvard (on Bishop Allen Street, hence the group’s name), appeared in Michael Cera movie Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist – one of them even helped create OkayCupid.com. However, the group isn’t unavoidable like V-dubs, indeed are just coming back from a long hiatus with Lights Out, which sees them adopt some more indietronic sounds, but still definitely Bishop Allen.
Lights Out revives Bishop Allen and brings in new sounds right from the get-go with one-two open “Start Again” and “Why I Had To Go”, all bright and cheery. The cheer continues on throughout the record (though the two smaller pieces sung by Darbie Nowatka, “Black Hole” and “Shadow”, have more shadows to them). This is not contemplative darkness, or giant dance beats, but peppy cheer.
Lights Out can’t feel as fresh as early Bishop Allen, but the light electronic element does help it stand out the way prior Grrr… (QRO review) kind of didn’t. If you like Bishop Allen, you’ll be happy with this album.
Bishop Allen – Start Again
