Joywave CONTENT (LP)

On their sophomore full-length, New York quintet Joywave deliver a layered, complex, and engrossing album of emotional depth and dynamic sonics. Content arrived two years after their debut and the evolution is clear. While How Do You Feel Now? managed to be a strong collection of catchy tunes, it was nonetheless quite similar to the output of many other contemporary synth rock outfits. On Content, the band focuses on mood and atmosphere, playing with space and exercising restraint for maximum effect. On the thrilling "Rumors," frontman Daniel Armbruster reminds listeners that "Substance has got to count for something" over a sleazy throb that descends into a storm of handclaps, drums, and distortion. "Going to a Place" is another highlight that does in fact go to many places. One of many Hot Chip-esque tunes, it features a mid-song exploratory jam that morphs and twists toward an end that fizzles into the ether. It's a satisfying sort of whiplash that repeats itself throughout Content,