Mona
With his sixth album Lerche once again offers himself as a modern Elvis Costello or Paul Simon — his songs played The Graduate role in the 2007 Steve Carell vehicle Dan in Real Life — while determining if such a thing is required in a 140-character world. Still on “Private Caller” when the Norway-to-Brooklyn transplant’s voice leaps to the top of its register atop subtly overdriven guitars it cries out hit single everywhere but radio.
Like Ron Sexsmith Lerche might be destined to transpose lost standards for a younger generation — opener “Ricochet” and “Coliseum Town” are unapologetically gorgeous — but Lerche also takes unexpected excursions. “Domino” sounds more like the Swedish psychedelia of Lerche’s Nordic neighbours Dungen (with a nod to Beach Boys’ “Surf’s Up”). “Tied Up to the Tide” is draped in White Album ambience. Best of all “Go Right Ahead” and “When the River” nod ever so briefly toward the dance floor — on the latter the football chant even goes for a quickie in the Disco.
