Portland band
Reptaliens' 2017 debut album,
FM-2030, found its inspirations in a fascination with aliens, cults, and
Philip K. Dick sci-fi novels, but those themes were hard to make out beneath their waves of friendly, uber-chill indie pop. Sounding somewhere between the breathy isolation of
Broadcast and the chorus-doused lo-fi pop of
Mac DeMarco,
TOPS,
Crumb, or any other number of easygoing melodians,
Reptaliens' science fiction leanings were more apparent in their high-concept stage shows than on album. Second record
Valis tends more towards an internal world than extraterrestrial curiosity, but the band maintains their relaxed, vaporous sound. Vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Bambi Browning commands the tunes with a soft but powerful delivery and the rest of the band fills out the arrangements with easy, drifting strums, sophisti-pop rhythms, and the occasional tasteful synth bleeping. The entire mix was run through a department-store karaoke machine, adding another layer of hazy dreaminess to the songs. Lyrics explore longing and devotion, with standouts like the synth-heavy "Shuggie II" and "Echo Park" offering hooks that are somewhat buried in the overarching sleepy vibe but peek out just enough to make the songs memorable. ~ Fred Thomas