Adam & the Amethysts

There's inevitability to falling in love with Adam & the Amethysts; it just seems to happen after listening to a few songs because they're so utterly charming. That was the case with their 2008 debut and there's no reason to believe that anything will change with its successor. Flickering Flashlight is a record that revels in its introspection. Adam Waito's songs are like sketches from a time gone by that are both instantly familiar and remarkably comforting. Their take on folk music has a wonderful dusting of psychedelic pop that suggests that Waito's time with Miracle Fortress has brushed off on him, or vice versa. It might have been recorded at home, but it definitely doesn't suffer from any lo-fi stigma, with just the slightest touch of atmospheric hiss from time to time. The songs meander along quietly, with some lovely harmonies and warmth that are contagious. The only option is to succumb.