Pattern-Seeking Animals – Prehensile Tales (Sunset Boulevard: Solid Yellow and Solid Orange 2LP)This release is 2LPs on 180g vinyl.Pattern-Seeking Animals, the California-based band featuring Ted Leonard (lead vocals & guitars), Jimmy Keegan (drums & vocals), Dave Meros (bass) and John Boegehold (keyboards) is back with their second studio album in just under a year. Prehensile Tales continues on the same stylistic path as their eponymously-named debut with a few new turns along the way.For the six songs on the album (the longest clocking in at over 17 minutes), the band expanded its sonic footprint by introducing violin, flute, trumpet, cello, sax and pedal steel to the sound palette that was once again recorded and mixed by Rich Mouser at The Mouse House. Lyrically, the songs’ subjects run the gamut from second chances in life to vampires to shipwrecks to facing mortality.“I started writing for the second album right as we were finishing up the first one”, says Boegehold, who is again producing. “I wanted to change around some of the songwriting approaches I’d been using and draw from a few different musical influences while not straying too far from the overall vibe of the band. Adding a few new instruments to the mix was part of the equation.”“This album is another collection of lush arrangements and infectious melodies. I mean REALLY infectious”, says Leonard. “There are certain lines that are the last thing going through my head at night and the first thing in the morning. I think it’s actually furthering my insanity.” Meros adds: “OK, I’ll say it. . . I really, really liked the debut album, but I like this one even more. It’s one of those albums where everything came together just right.”The album art is by the Polish artist Mirek. “The moment I saw it, it immediately seemed like a perfect fit for the band and this album,” explains Boegehold. The meaning of the album title? “Prehensile Tales is a play-on-words I came up with while writing lyrics and thought it would be a funny album title. As a bonus, it actually seems to mean something that fits the music.” Tracks: Side A: Raining Hard In Heaven Here In My Autumn Side B: Elegant Vampires Why Don’t We Run Side C: Lifeboat Nearer Now To Heaven Fitful Dreams Dull The Sword Of Damocles Never More Than Human What Happens When You Die Side D: Soon But Not Today Format: Sunset Boulevard: Solid Yellow & Solid Orange 2LPArtist: Pattern-Seeking AnimalsRelease Date: 2020
