Crushed Stars - In the Bright Rain (2012)

Crushed Stars leader Todd Gautreau sees with night vision. His songs are hushed and romantic, made to be heard in the early hours of morning when staying conscious is the only fight the body has left. The reverb's thick and the tempos are a crawl, with remnants of The Church, Red House Painters, Low, and other nocturnal groups giving Gautreau's music a context if not actual influences. Restraint is key, and any aggression has been tempered with the will to lay back and let things happen. Gautreau does so without relying on electronics to bring about his muted ambience. "Color Kites" uses pianos, acoustic guitars, and strings to create a sleepy beauty. "Copenhagen" plays like an evening rain gently patting the ground, with bursts of keyboard and guitars adding countermelodies. "Pretty Girls Are Everywhere" tucks a pop melody behind its moody facade. "Window" adds a modest rhythm that sounds like the band attempting to lift off, while "House on the Hill" and "Take Flight" return to the subtle buzz of subliminal writing and recording.