In Streams
Debut album by Champaign-Urbana trio led by singer/guitarist Matt Talbott (Hum/Honcho Overload) with bassist Derek Niedringhaus (Castor/Sarge/The Big Bright Lights/National Skyline), and drummer Jim Kelly (Sixteen Tons/Monitor/Sloworm). Imagine "In Streams" as the tropical night sky of a new hemisphere, strewn with comfortably numb strobe-rock epics, weirdly enchanted psychedelic pop songs, and the occasional spaced-out prog opus whirling by. These songs explore the strength and frailty of human life, songs of loss and longing.  Still hip deep in an earthy mysticism (with natural and supernatural phenomena, as always, key themes), Talbott's lyrics betray a profound and, at times, desolate melancholy and suggest the personal story behind this album that proves too tragic to relate. Matt's vocals, at the forefront here for the first time, are a vibrant presence, no longer buried in the bombast.  Centaur, aided and abetted by producer-shaman Keith Cleversley (Hum, The Flaming Lops, Mercury Rev, Spritualized, The Posies, Duraluxe) has seeded the clouds with all manner of subtle sonic finery; chimes, flugelhorn, sitar, piano, and deer.  Cleversley is a long-time fan of Hum and of Matt's work in general, and feels that the emotionally rich Centaur is one of the best records he's been lucky enough to be a part of.For fans of Hum, My Bloody Valentine, Lovecup, Failure, Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon, etc.