Following the departure of founding rhythm section
Shayde Sartin
and
Kyle Gibson
,
the Fresh & Onlys
' sixth album,
Wolf Lie Down
, finds the band's official membership down to the duo of singer and main songwriter
Tim Cohen
and guitarist
Wymond Miles
. Despite that, and having shifted over time in the direction of a -- relatively speaking -- more thoughtful, refined sound, here they show no signs of diminishment, in terms of volume or temperament. Quite the contrary. The album opens with a blast of distortion-washed punk on the title track. While still less garagey than their debut, the album then digs deep into '60s-inspired sounds, including a dedicated return to garage pop, and the psychedelia that never left their work. "One of a Kind," for instance, clamors with crashing cymbals, surfy guitar, and harmonica under
Cohen
's vocal delivery, at times reminiscent of
Jim Morrison
's deep grumble. At the end, the song breaks down into an eddy of sustained distortion and organ-like tones. Elsewhere, the uncommonly catchy "Impossible Man," reportedly inspired by
Ralph Ellison
's Invisible Man but personalized by
, rattles and churns alongside a soaring melody. It's balanced by songs like the spooky, more reflective "Walking Blues" ("I'll sing the blues/But you won't believe me"), while the noisier "Dancing Chair" has droning guitars and echoing synths that bridge psych-rock, noise pop, and
Joy Division
. With production by style comrades
Kelley Stoltz
Greg Ashley
, together they've fashioned a set of pleasingly rough-hewn, infectious psych-rock with at least a couple of career stand-out tracks. ~ Marcy Donelson