A pleasant springlike sound permeates Jeremy Gustin’s electronica offerings on Mere Husk, the latest LP he’s recorded under The Ah moniker. Perhaps its the tactile percussive elements on tracks like “The Factory Girl” and “Watermelon Tears” that feel like a more grounded Animal Collective b-side, or the pleasant twang accompanying keys on “Just Relief” that resonate as charming and homegrown, the type of soundtrack for a weekend bike ride around Greenpoint or a walk in Prospect Park. Regardless of which specific instrumental accents endow the record with its bouncing, verdant energy, the summation of Gustin’s varied synthetic process makes for a colorful release, one that showcases a keen ear for abstraction, creative melodies, and off-kilter sounds. Give it a listen below before the rest of the album drops this Friday (on NNA Tapes), or attend the album listening party at Step Bone Cut on February 1st.
