Transit Transit

Los Angeles trio Autolux's 2004 debut, Future Perfect, was hugely indebted to the billowing drones of the early-'90s shoegazers. At a time when the garage-rock revival was still supposed to be the next big thing, it didn't exactly set the charts aflame. But six years later, the streets of Brooklyn are paved with young bands who have devoured the My Bloody Valentine catalogue whole, and groups like School of Seven Bells have taken the shoegazer-revivalism idea straight to blog respect. But rather than play catch-up, Autolux have subtly tweaked their atmospheric sound to recall not only the original wave of shoegazers, but the generation of American indie rockers who took those bands as part of their inspiration. As a result, Transit Transit sounds more like Versus or Painful-era Yo La Tengo than the likes of Ride or Slowdive, with its shimmering waves of sound underpinned by a new tension-and-release aesthetic that invites closer attention. First single "Supertoys" and slow-building closer "The Science of Imaginary Solutions" are particularly memorable slices of indie guitar rock, relying more on ear-grabbing hooks than just cool sounds. Transit Transit does have cool sounds in abundance, though: the bridge of the otherwise tranquil "The Bouncing Wall" is pierced with noises that sound like a rutting wild boar sent through a Vocoder, and the song later features a creamy wordless vocal part from drummer/singer Carla Azar that recalls vintage Stereolab. Autolux may be less unique now than before, but perhaps that means their audience will find them this time.