The Albemarle Sound

By borrowing from the classic conceptual pop albums of the late sixties for their latest offering, Brooklyn's Ladybug Transistor have ended up crafting a late-20th century gem that will most certainly be remembered as one of 1999's most outstanding releases. With housemate Bill Wells helping out behind the boards, the backing tracks of The Albemarle Sound could easily be mistaken for lost Pet Sounds instrumentals. The variety of instruments, all utilized in a contained, precise manner, are so perfectly chosen that it's easy let the sounds slip past without truly appreciating each song's construction. Horns, strings, and Jeffrey Baron's wide-ranging guitar work combine to create a lush, sprawling background for singer Gary Olson's double-layered, crooning vocals. The real star of this disc, however, is Sasha Bell, whose piano and keyboard work (not to mention harmonies) shifts with each tempo change and elevates the album to a new plateau. Not a conceptual record in the literal sense, the abundant lyrical references to various forms of water keeps the album loosely unified with a vocabulary of images. The result of this imagery, when combined with the soothing melodies and timeless production value, is an uplifting, hopeful record appropriate for any mood. -Muze