Natural Part [Transparent Red LP]

There's a space between literal and abstract where art often resides, and few bands excel at navigating that surreal territory more deftly than Horse Jumper of Love. On their third full-length, Natural Part, the Boston-based three-piece revels in the act of grasping at something that can't be held, smudging the lines between rich details, hazy memories, vivid moments, and intangible feelings to create their most captivating record to date. Sonically, Natural Part feels even more expansive than anything Horse Jumper of Love have done before, which is no small feat for a band whose music has often hinged on billowing guitars and roomy drums. Opener "Snakeskin" gently welcomes the listener with an enveloping atmosphere, before a sharply angled guitar riff in the towering second track "Ding Dong Ditch" fractures the aura. Familiar influences like Duster and David Berman can still be heard throughout, but new elements like cello-performed by Emily Dicks Thomas and inspired by both Nirvana's unplugged album and listening to Oasis' "Wonderwall" in preparation for a Halloween cover set)-add different textures to the band's reverberating sound. A sense of mystery and the inevitability of change permeates much of The Natural Part, with vocalist / guitarist Dimitri Giannapoulos often capturing snapshots that take note of a flickering feeling in the mundane, and then letting his imagination expand it into something profound. It's those kinds of details that makes Natural Part such a compelling listen. It's an album planted firmly in small moments that feel big: the unexpected flashes that somehow feel authentic and esoteric all at once, and cut through our busy lives to ground us in something that seems meaningful-even if we can't fully articulate why.