Here we are in the dead of winter (at least those of us in the Northern half of the planet) and Portland, Maine’s Little Oso has decided to release a perfect summer record, “How Lucky To Be Somebody”. You can practically see the heat shimmers rising off of the shimmering lo-fi sounds and right now, we can all use a bit of summer.
Out now on the always reliable Repeating Cloud label, this is the debut LP from Little Oso after releasing three EP’s over the last few years. Jonathan Shipley took a look at the lead single, the great “Metaphorical Ohio”, and had great things to say. The full record is fantastic, a nostalgic trip through life and a bit nostalgic in the music as well, which owes some debt to the Paisley Underground and jangle pop of my younger days.
Overall, the sound of this album is just enchanting. Musically, the band is locked in tight. Guitarist Ricky Lorenzo’s playing is a stand-out and, it must be said, more interesting than you usually find in dream pop. Helping with that is the notable lack of synths out front, which is really refreshing. Musically, there is a lot going on in each song – a full band record. The rhythm section of bassist Dana Guth and drummer DJ Nelson are holding down the bottom and both sound great here.
Singer and lyricist Jeannette Berman’s vocals are the lynchpin to the cloudy, ethereal sound of Little Oso. The lyrics are both familiar and just far enough out of reach to never quite get the entire picture. They are vignettes from a place that we want to exist that doesn’t quite yet. A place where the stink of politics is gone and we are left with our dreams and our love. The lead song, “Good Things”, reminds us that our choices led us here so we shouldn’t be afraid. We are encouraged to embrace those near us for safety in “Blankets”. “The Frogs Sing For No Reason” is another reminder, one to be grateful for being here even when things are not perfect.
There is also doubt (“Other People’s Lives”) and what I hear as pain (“Spiral”) on this record, but there is never a lack of hope. Is it escapism? Possibly, but if anything we all need a little escape, and a lot of hope, and Little Oso has given us some.
Written by Bruce Warren
