The D.C.-area band Sansyou captivated in the past with instrumentals that seemed to be taking inspiration from bands like Ride, The Durutti Column, and Dif Juz. The group lineup changed (except for leader David Nicholas) and the focus shifted a bit. The results on their new record are quite nice even though they are a little different than the early stuff.
Every Living Thing is six songs with half featuring vocals. That's a big change for this previously instrumental outfit. However, stuff like "Being 15" is great. The track, held aloft thanks to vocals from Brittany Jean Valint, earns comparisons to mid-period Sundays and early Innocence Mission. Elsewhere, "I'll See You in Time" is a down-tempo gem due to Kelli Miyahara's lovely voice.
It's clear what guitarist David Nicholas was listening to in the Eighties and Nineties. And while he transposes British indie into American on this record, the tunes still work in a unique fashion. What makes Every Living Thing such a nice listen is how we can hear Nicholas bridging his loves as a music fan, with his artistic ambitions. A little indie, and a touch of dream-pop make this Sansyou record recommended.
Every Living Thing by Sansyou is out today.