Little Mazarn -- Mustang Island
Little Mazarn bring mischief, mourning, and wonder to their stunning album Mustang Island, an album that ponders grief and generativity, understanding that both have equal weight in our lives.
Mustang Island isn't an album you should listen to in a traditional sense. Little Mazarn, the Austin-based trio of Lindsey Verrill (she/her), Jeff Johnston (he/him) and Carolina Chauffe (they/them), invite us to a soundscape that is both meditative and challenging – traditional and future-oriented, songs designed to sooth and trouble the waters. It's a pleasure to witness a group of artists who are so comfortable together that they take big swings – and bombs like it's the homerun derby.
That dynamic might best be captured in "New New San Antonio Rose," a teasing cover of the Bob Willis classic that gives one the sense that the band can't suppress their grins as new lyrics and new synth lines gradually build upon what begins as a straightforward cover. We feel them teeter on the verge of chaos, only to shift their balance on a dime – with grace and confidence.
This agnostic approach to genre gives Mustang Island a dizzying depth. "Crystal Cave" is grounded in folk, while "Dark Pleasure of Endless Doing" is a buoyant synth pop song that asks us if we are really spending our time wisely. "The Golden Hour" leaves us with a hushed reminder to take in the beauty that surrounds us while we still can. This introspection is the album's core: coming at a time of important life transitions for each band member, Mustang Island ponders grief and generativity, understanding that both have equal weight in our lives.
