Ducktails - Daffy Duck In Hollywood (2017) [Hi-Res]

Nice ’n easy does it for Matt Mondanile’s Ducktails on his ecstatic, synthy sunbeam of a record, Daffy Duck In Hollywood. Every bit as charming as the title suggests, it compiles unheard material recorded at home in LA over the last two years, and finds Mondanile and gang cracking open a can of BBQ and camper van-ready psychedelic grooves, suggesting a heady, kaleidoscopic montage of pastel tones and smoky flange simply requiring your imagination to fill out the scene with imaginary buddies.

At one hour in length, it’s arguably relatively long for a pop album, but then that’s probably where the psychedelic element really kicks in, as it oscillates from full blown signature paeans to life itself and a series of sweetly expressive instrumental parts, all prompting genuinely light-headed sensations with the sort of harmonious magick that has carried them thus far.

As opposed to the more sardonic Ariel Pink, or, say, the smug slacker thing that Mac Demario does, these guy simply trades in gorgeous vibes between the hazy, gunky groove of Prelude thru the stellar, synth-heavy Yacht Rock glyde of Don’t Want To Let You Know, to Antena-Like instrumental bossa swoons in The Conversation and x66, plus some proper ‘90s British indie-pop psychedelia drenched in their synth-and-string-drenched Carousel.