Jupiter, Florida is the notably more exuberant third LP from the solo project of English songwriter Thomas White (
the Electric Soft Parade, Brakesbrakesbrakes). Where prior albums by
the Fiction Aisle were limited, self-released works intended as an outlet for more personal material, it also marks the project's Chord Orchard label debut. While still immersed in wistful, extended chords and complex harmonic progressions, there's a spring in the step of
Jupiter, Florida, with its full drums, more active basslines, and brisker tempos. It also touches on '70s art rock, with three of its tracks lasting over seven minutes, and prolonged instrumental rock outros on at least a couple of tracks. Reinforced by synths, opener "Gone Today" offers a borderline dance-rock that was totally absent from 2016's Fuschia Days. Later, "Ten Years" is thematically repetitive until it turns a corner both lyrically and musically. A song like the nearly eight-minute "Memory" passes through a mix of styles and musical references, though crisp, pretty chord progressions à la
Roddy Frame dominate the album's sound. The only taut, under-four-minute pop song here, though, is "Some Things Never Die," a reflective, midtempo entry. Listeners who can hang in with the other tracks' more sinuous song forms will be treated to engaging melodies, bittersweet lyrics, and those luxurious chord structures. ~ Marcy Donelson