David Woody is back with
Fiver's fourth full-length. The sound isn't that different on
Let It All Fall Down -- in fact, something like "Scared Not Scared" reminds directly of 2002's
Here It Comes. But what's wrong with a niche if you find a good one? Here, long strings of fuzzy guitar loop over and around
Woody's boyish lilt, aided by the pretty harmonies of bassist Amy Metcalf and keyboardist Lauren Singleton. The heydays of dream- and Brit-pop keep crystallizing on
Fall Down's blissful foggy edges, in the crashing guitar break of "They Hardly Know" and "Lost Enterprise"'s swirling guitar foment. Besides having a powerfully evocative title, "Dead Roads" feels like
the Apples in Stereo dipped in
Bedhead's brand of slowcore contemplation. The drums and cymbals are mixed a bit louder for "It's Your Funeral"'s intro; this is nice, as too much spacey pop can make anyone airsick. The song eventually shifts into its own brittle verse, but does eventually return to a steady snare beat. This is a solid dynamic for
Fiver. Though their hazy detachment can be somewhat hallucinogenic-centric, the band always keeps instrumentation and songwriting closer than simply crafting a druggy vibe. They've probably heard this before, but "That Town" is a wonderful attempt to re-birth
Radiohead in the dusky sun of California. With lots of appeal for fans of
Grandaddy,
the Beta Band, and the Parasol label,
Woody and
Fiver should probably be receiving more exposure than they are.