The surf-psych brilliance of The Mary Veils is an answered prayer for Philly fans of Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees. Fuzzed out and awash in reverb, Slacker Paint, the debut from Brian Von Uff’s solo project, tows the line between invention and pure nostalgia, reaffirming the blueprint of garage rock’s seemingly unending revival.
Opening with the atmospheric dissonance of “Alter Alone,” the album’s start mimics the sensation of being transported. Whirs and humming chords engulf the listener before dissipating into licks of guitar and Von Uff’s echoed croons of “She’s fever, she’s fever.” Recounting the decay of a romance, “Alter Alone” is seductively bittersweet. “Time” reveals itself as a thematically worthy successor to The Chamber Brothers’ iconic ‘67 single, exploring the temporal limitations of mortality with an urgency that makes each harmony and crash of cymbal immediate and nearly tangible.
The ironically titled “Carefully Carefree” is a less pensive alternative to fraught apprehension of Happy Birthday’s interiority and Kurt Vile’s, at times, somber introspection. An earworm with heart, the track accurately captures the ups and downs of everyday life, without feeling trite or cliché. The LP’s title track, “Slacker Paint (Summertime Jesus),” channels the nonchalant aggression of No Bunny and the “Beach a Go-Go” swagger of Hunx and His Punx, a pairing that results in a catchy ballad bound to make listeners reminisce about warmer days. Its buzzing riffs alone are as memorable as its seasonal namesake.
Von Uff’s diction on “Who Are You” and “Lime” brings to mind Twins and Mikal Cronin, while “Believer” and “Emily” feel like a darker rendition of King Tuff’s moodiest cuts. The brooding pulse and electric shreds of “See You Run” and “Feel the Air” are dance-ready anthems for psych and garage lovers alike. As Slacker Paint nears the homestretch with a haunting ode to the West Coast and desire, the sparseness of “Cold As A Knife,” the closest Von Uff gets to acoustic, highlights his strength as a lyricist and storyteller.
With “Good Night,” the album shifts back to full throttle, each drumbeat and swirling riff re-energizing the audience, before giving way to the contemplative and delectably moody closer, “The Mope.” Familiar yet inventive, Slacker Paint will undoubtedly become a fall favorite that you’ll return to again and again. – Dianca London