Mojave 3
Puzzles Like You

THE REVIEW

Summer is approaching. The vaporous crashing of a wave on a sunlit cliff, the whiteness of the foam regenerating among the waves; an unspoiled sense of freshness and purity. Sensations that are rarely felt, but that give a touch of well-being and happiness. Emotions of an extraordinarily unique intensity.

Like the music that flows from the twelve tracks of "Puzzles Like You," the fifth album by Mojave 3 that marks a profound artistic shift in their honored career (spanning over ten years and over sixteen if considering their great 'shoegaze' past as Slowdive), leaving behind the singer-songwriter pop of their previous four albums and opening new horizons for their creativity. Completely abandoning the intimate atmospheres of “Ask Me Tomorrow,” “Out Of Tune,” “Excuses For Travellers,” and “Spoon And Rafter,” Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon craft an album of twelve splendid songs filled with sunny and crystalline pop that could put Stone Roses and Primal Scream to shame, chasing the ingenious simplicity of Beach Boys, Byrds, and Beatles.

The opening quartet of tracks is a clear cascade of enveloping and dreamy sounds: "Truck Driving Man," power pop from the best Boo Radleys school; "Puzzles Like You," a kaleidoscope of harmonies à la "Sonic Flower Groove," the first unmatched work by Primal Scream; "Breaking The Ice," energetic and sparkling rock'n'roll between Beatles and Beach Boys, with light brushstrokes of Biff Bang Pow! (a seminal band in which one Alan McGee used to play); "Running With Your Eyes Closed," a cheeky and intriguing cousin of certain wonders produced by the Stone Roses from their first historic album.
"Most Days" is the one that ties most to the band's past, recalling more intimate sounds (between Nick Drake and Simon & Garfunkel) but without neglecting the melodic flair, which is the cornerstone of the entire work, and without breaking the continuity of the piece. "Big Star Baby" returns to pop with a curious melodic intro that almost ironically recalls the "Here Comes Your Man" by Pixies-like memory; from the title and the pace, it would seem a tribute to the historic band of Alex Chilton.

"Ghost Ship Waiting," a light rock'n'roll, enhanced by a sweet background Hammond organ, could be a standout single, while "Kill The Lights" harks back to the delicate psychedelic atmospheres of the band's first album by Bobby Gillespie. Hypnotic and intriguing "You Said It Before," with chiaroscuro tones; while returning to the most playful and contagious power-pop in "To Hold Your Tiny Toes" that sits on a path reminiscent of Spector-like memory.
"Just a Boy" could seem to have come from the pen of Morrissey/Marr during their most artistically fruitful period, and the concluding "The Mutineer" finishes, with its subdued progression of voice and guitar, the sequence of this delightful fifth effort by Mojave 3.

Excellently produced by Victor Van Vugt, who avoids garish overproductions, almost making it seem as if the recording was done live, "Puzzles Like You" is certainly one of the most beautiful and sparkling records released in this half of 2006.

Absolutely unthinkable to remain immune to it.