Softly psychedelic

One distinctive feature of the second album from David Novick, Ty Segall‰’s buddy and kinda label mate (GOD? is an imprint of Drag City, and Novick played drums on the Sleeper track “The Keepers‰Û) is the number of instrumental tracks (three on a nine track album) which feel less like songs and more like suites. Sometimes they work to set the scene and transition from track to track (opener “Gate‰” and “Until You Show‰Û), but other times, they sound too stately and almost medieval (“Last Moon,‰” which sounds like it could soundtrack a bad 80s fantasy flick). When Novick sticks to writing psychedelic/folk/pop nuggets, however, he largely succeeds. The production has a warped, lo-fi quality to it, but instead of sounding small and inward, is lush and expansive. Much of the credit goes to Novick‰’s songwriting/composition, as he manages to pepper in small instrumental flourishes of guitars both fuzzy and trippy, female vocals, horns and other elements to fill out what are otherwise simple acoustic songs. This elevates the production choices from mere gimmicks to actual artistic choices, and the listener begins to imagine that this record would be right at home in 1960s San Francisco. It may be a little front-loaded and spacey at times, but Your Sister‰’s Hand is a promising release from an up and coming psychedelic singer/songwriter

RIYL: Kurt Vile, Sleeper, Jackson Scott
Recommended: 2-4, 8