Label: W.25th – W25-19
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 22 May 2025
Genre: Rock
Style: Experimental, Lo-Fi, Punk
Words incommminngggggg (Mint / New)
Quickly on the heels of their debut, Cuneiform Tabs return with "Age," an LP that takes a massive leap forward in both melodic sensibilities and inventiveness. Bathed in late night psychedelia and the looping repetition of a drone sample, the group's experimental penchants remain, yet this time wrapped around tunes too sweet to be denied. In pulling back a little of the crackle and haze that made their first album so inviting, the Tabs have revealed more of their pop instincts. The overall effect is a perfect set of early Animal Collective demos or Syd Barrett attempting a Television Personalities cover at 3am.
The duo of Matt Bleyle and Sterling Mackinnon continue their system of trading 4-track tapes between the Bay Area and London, a furtive correspondence until sonic nuggets are fully formed. While these songs are very much the product of the Tascam and rudimentary software that is integral to the band, this album is truly the embrace of their songwriting talents – not unlike the recent breakthrough of labelmate Cindy Lee.
With the dream-like strum of "Ivy," slow shimmer of "Orbital Rings" and enchanting, madcap swirl of "Blended Medal," this is hypnagogic pop at its finest. "Age" is the record Bob Pollard hears in his head every time he steps down to the basement to pick up a guitar. This is the sound of riding in an elevator hearing McCartney singing "Blackbird" in the distance, only to have it draw closer and closer with each floor as you finally race down the hallway, putting your ear to each door searching for the source. This is Leonard Cohen smoking in the middle of the street outside a Suicide show. If all of this sounds phenomenal, it is.
Tracklist
A1 Flush In The Cheeks 04:24
A2 Crow Speech 04:00
A3 Feiform Tabs 03:28
A4 So Light 05:25
A5 Orbital Rings 03:09
B1 Ivy 04:24
B2 Taoist Face Wash 03:27
B3 Blended Medal 02:32
B4 Alyosha 03:48
B5 Flintstone Meal 02:50
