(City Slang, Fri 4 Mar 2016)

Relaxed and undeniably mellowed following their post-The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy hiatus, US indie veterans Nada Surf have returned with their eighth studio album, You Know Who You Are.

Formed in the 90s in New York City, the band were seen on MTV screens worldwide – particularly in France, where a large cut of their fanbase seem to remain – with their single Popular, a song from their debut album that captured the same moody, sarcastic tone that the Pixies and Modest Mouse rode through the decade on. Twenty years on (ah, doesn’t Diana and Charles’ divorce seem just like yesterday?), the initially unpretentious, driven tones of Nada Surf have softened considerably. Are we witnessing the band’s descent into comfortable music middle age, accompanied by dad bods and holidays to CenterParcs?

Frontman Matthew Caws’ laidback, reedy tones ease us over a ten track album that, whilst lacking a great deal of variation in theme or tone, provides a comfortingly solid, upbeat, guitar-pop driven record. Flashes of their earlier work are seen, particularly in the album’s title track, where Caws’ vocals take a short-lived sit up. Lack of tonal variety between tracks leads to any hope of dynamism being pinned on lyrics. New Bird tells us of religion separating a young man from his parents, and is sadly one of only a few examples where the narrative is compelling enough to interest.

Nada Surf’s upcoming tour will be sure to attract the band’s loyal fan base, many of whom will come to hear Popular and material from the critically acclaimed Let Go. Their combined years of experience – given a new edge by the addition of their former touring musician Doug Gillard to the original quartet – have culminated in this perfectly nice album that is ultimately fated to serve as background music. Their next project may well experience the tonal version of a mid-life crisis – and who knows, the reincorporation of angst and struggle (albeit with their typical restrained optimism) may work well for Nada Surf.