The Harlequins have been bashing out their brand of psychedelic indie pop for quite some time. This eighth album finds the Cincinnati trio refining its Buzzcocks-by-way-of-Wellington sound. Well, refining and reinventing.

The Harlequins Time (self-released)

The tight bashers are very tight, with some wonderful 60s-ish echo and reverb. The first track is a six-minute psychedelic wander, something that is entirely different from the rest of the album. And yet, it sets the table quite nicely. The songs that follow are clearly from the same cloth, even as they crash and warble in a much more chaotic manner.

So yeah, if you ever wondered what it might sound like if Straightjacket Fits played British pop punk, this sucker should give you a fine taste. I prefer the punchier, more uptempo pieces, but the blocky chords of the more ruminative songs have their own primitive charm as well.

This does not sound like the work of a band settling into a groove. Rather, the Harlequins are constantly shifting the base of their songs. The reverb-laden guitars do provide a solid sonic tone, but the songs themselves head off into many directions. Mature bands aren't supposed to be this adventurous. I suppose now is the time to toast immaturity. Good, inventive music, in any case. My glass is raised.

Jon Worley