The second album from this New Zealand band plays like the house music for the Discovery Store. “Oh, Mojave,” the Maori-sung “Tane Mahuta,” the pun-tastic “Kenya Dig it?,” “It’s Mwengi in Front of me,” and “Adventure Tour” play like love letters to distant lands and cultures, and album highlight “There are Birds” mixes Nico-like grandiosity with African percussion and Pet Sounds melodies.
The Ruby Suns’ greatest strength is how easily they’re able to pull off this mix on Sea Lion without seeming over-bearing or preening. It makes the whole album seem effortless.
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Band: http://www.lilchiefrecords.com/therubysuns
Label: http://www.subpop.com
