by Carolina Simionato (@smntcarolina)
Four years have passed since More Klementines’ eponymous debut album came out—or have they? I am not so sure anymore, “Hot Peace” is making me pleasantly dizzy. Then again, what else could one have expected from More Klementines? Michael Kiefer (drums), Jon Schlesinger (guitar, lap steel, vocals) and Steubs (who, here, is in charge of the mandolin, guitar, bass, electronics, and mark tree) are back at it with Who Remembers Light, sounding like people who have never not been at it. The album sucks you right into the jam in “Hot Peace,” par for the course when it comes to this group.
Then on “Key of Caesar,” suddenly there is a voice and lyrics and a new layer of emotion to connect with. This is as “song” as a More Klementines track gets, and I am doubly glad so, both for what it echoes and for what makes it fresh. This old structure offers a new way of experiencing the band whose name is a strong contender as a follow-up to the sentence, “So, do you like fifteen-minute experimental psychedelic jams?”
Who Remembers Light furthers the repertoire of these never boring, always exploring musicians in a way that is both expected, in terms of quality, and unexpected, in terms of what directions this quality can take. Each one of these four tracks, very well aligned, is an adventure in sonic texture. That and color, the sometimes-forgotten siblings of pitch and rhythm, are led through the band’s playground, often swinging graciously, sometimes scraping knees against gravel, like in the deliciously crunchy “Who Remembers Light.” Once again, these are people who either (probably) know exactly what they are doing or are faking their way to that impression so well that it reaches a new level of honesty. Either way, it’s a joyful ride. In times of constant beeping and things to do and things which have not yet been done and groceries to be bought and emails to be answered and series to be watched, stop. Turn off and sit or lie down or stand up—whatever feels more comfortable. Allow Who Remembers Light to carry you towards it.