Almost entirely Paul Nederostek (he farmed out the drums, but played guitar, keyboards and sang and also produced), Dead Swells evokes the listlessness of a breezeless late summer afternoon--which brings dead swells to the beach, of course.

Dead Swells Dead Swells (Artist Formula Record Group)

Nederostek hails from Charleston, so he knows a little something about the vicissitudes of the sea. He infuses his 70s laissez-faire grooves with a bit of surf and r&b, depending on his mood. Not shag, though. That's strictly a North Carolina thing (and an inside joke; sorry). There are elements of electronic experimentation, though they're so filtered that in the end they're nicely polished baubles.

Indeed, the whole late light feel of this album permeates everything. I suppose some might want to call this shoegaze or psychedelic, but I don't hear that. Rather, Nederostek is content to chill and let the pieces roll into place.

The patience required to process these arrangements is astounding. These songs aren't exactly languid, and they certainly aren't lugubrious. Their modest sound disguises the skill and precision behind the curtain. This is the perfect chill-down for whenever life is becoming too much.

Jon Worley