Dancer Equired

For a new surprise lo-fi warriors Times New Viking headed into a real studio and found a way to retain just enough murk to keep the mystique. “Ever Falling In Love” is nearly tender with singer Beth Murphy rising above the clanging din for something approaching sensitivity. Essentially the band has moved from a noise band to a garage band. The guitars are still plenty dirty, the drums still pound in the background and the vocals, harmonies and all, merge in a delicious yawp that retains its independent spirit as it conjures up memories of those old Pebbles collections of obscure garage bands. A rambunctious organ adds a pressure-packed melody to “F**k Her Tears” and Cramps-like rhythms and guitar lines rise above the din of “Somebody’s Slave.” “It’s a Culture” drives upwards with a ‘70s punk tempo and “California Roll” sounds like a beach party anthem designed to break the lease. “Don’t Go to Liverpool” is redolent of plenty of DIY indie-rock, Olympia, Washington style. A trace of Beat Happening, a splash of Modern Lovers, perhaps, but always Times New Viking finding their way out of the cave and into the light.