Takes Place in Your Work Space

Maintaining the momentum of its buzz, White Denim delivers a fifth EP that’s bursting at the seams with erratic energy, innovative ideas, and angular arrangements. On the surface, the opening song, “Cat City,” sounds like a mellow indie-folk number with hushed vocals. But peer inside the clockwork, and a gaggle of gears are operating in perfect syncopation like a well-oiled machine. Joshua Block’s busy drumwork plays like a vibrating massage chair; he emits beats and fills that shift and change with such airtight precision that it all comes off sounding more soothing than busy. Over this, Austin Jenkens’ guitar matches the rhythms flawlessly. Then James Petralli’s breathy inflections usher in a pointed fuzz-guitar lead that somehow stands out while tying everything together, like fluorescent shoelaces on a pair of hiking boots. “No Real Reason” downshifts into a near-timeless serenade that plays like Devendra Banhart fronting a ‘60s baroque-pop outfit. The hyper-dexterous fretboard work on “Handwriting” is nicely contrasted by Petralli’s flowing minimal melodies and comforting backing vocals.