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Vampire Weekend turns down tempo on 3rd CD

Vampire Weekend
“Modern Vampires of the City”
(XL Recordings)

After releasing two bouncy albums of reggae-flavored pop laced with African rhythms, Vampire Weekend turns down the tempo and ups the indie-rock vibe on its third effort. “Modern Vampires of the City,” which the band characterizes as the culmination of a trilogy, puts singer-songwriters Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij‘s guitars and harmonies front and center.

The New York quartet maintains the layered arrangements it established as its signature on its self-titled 2008 debut and 2010’s “Contra,“ with organs and strings in the musical mix. But the vocals are more in focus here, with a choir adding haunting depth to the two closing tracks, ”Hudson“ and “Young Lion.”

These 12 new songs are more coffee house than college party, but that‘s not a bad thing. There are enough upbeat entries - including cleverly titled rockabilly single “Diane Young” - to satisfy expectations, and the slower pace allows Vampire Weekend to show what else it can do.

(AP)

Quadron’s debut is groovy and sensual

Quadron
“Avalanche”
(Epic Records/Vested in Culture)

Coco O.‘s soft and dreamy tone over the R&B-flavored beat on “Sea Salt” is enough to make you melt (summer heat not required).

“‘Cause you just play on, you just play with my feelings,” she coos. “Blame it all, you still blame it all, inexperienced.”

It’s an outstanding track and one of the 10 gems on Quadron‘s electronic soul debut, ``Avalanche.’‘ The Danish duo _ made up of singer Coco O. and producer Robin Hannibal - have crafted a lush, breezy group of songs that hark on love and make for feel-good and easy listening.

The title track is slow and layered, “It’s Gonna Get You” has a girl-group vibe and Kendrick Lamar adds volume to the lounge-y “Better Off.”

While the album is mostly mid-tempo, Quadron is even impressive when they speed up things: “Hey Love,” the album‘s first single, is a fun jam session, and Coco O.’s voice is addictive on the hooks of “LFT” and “Favorite Star.”

“Crushes don‘t come with warnings,” she sings on the latter track.

Now you’re warned.

(AP)

Waterboys set Yeats‘ poetry to music

The Waterboys
“An Appointment With Mr. Yeats”
(Proper American)

This album sounds much better than the concept. The Waterboys’ Mike Scott has written 14 songs using the poetry of W.B. Yeats, and the collaboration shouldn‘t work - not with such lyrics as “Man-stealer Niamh leant and sighed by Oisin on the grass.“

But Scott pulls it off. His rootsy, melodic Gaelic pop, with nods to Coldplay, Sting and Mark Knopfler, magnifies the beauty of Yeats’ words and makes them new again.

Scott, the son of a university lecturer in English literature, has been working on these songs for a couple of decades. His devotion to the project shows with an impressive variety of musical approaches.

“Mad as the Mist and Snow” becomes an arena-ready bluesy jig, while “The Faery‘s Last Song“ serves as a lilting benediction. And then there’s “News for the Delphic Oracle,” which ends with nymphs and satyrs in the throes of passion in the foamy sea. Very rock ’n‘ roll.

(AP)