Triptides – Predictions

A little bit psych, a little bit surf, ‘Predictions’ is undoubtedly a product of this decade, taking as it does 60s-indebted sounds (organs, guitar effects, swirly bits) and melding them with the kind of melancholic, wistful vocals as heard just about everywhere circa 2011 (and hidden, of course, by multiple layers of reverb).

And on the surface, this second full-length from the Indiana trio (that’s guitarists and vocalists Glenn Brigman and Josh Menashe alongside drummer Josh Morrow) is utterly charming. The intertwining, wistful voices weaving themselves in and out of largely upbeat backing is sweet. Throwaway in the best, Instagram-filtered way. Essentially, here Triptides are attempting to prolong the golden hour until there’s nothing else left.

Which would be nice, if it didn’t drag so much. For all the nods to long-haired guys in loud shirts, it takes until the end of seventh track, ‘Night Owl’ for the trio to veer even close to ‘wigging out’. ‘Mystery’ and ‘Sundown’ follow a pattern so well-worn by that point it’s definitively ‘in one ear, out the other’ stuff. And for all the jolly-ish attempts of ‘Tapestry’ musically, the echoing vocals are by that point exhausting – a chore to listen to. Which surely must defeat the point of lackadaisical beach vibes. The sun has to set sometime.