Durand Jones & the Indications update classic sounds with new album

Photo Credit: Bandcamp

Durand Jones & the Indications prove with "American Love Call" that the sounds of 1960s and ‘70s soul are just as effective and beautiful today as they were decades ago. Their second album is packed with songs that capture palpable romance and heartbreak through passionate performances and immaculate production.

According to the band’s website, the Indications originally planned to release their 2016 self-titled debut as a standalone project before a groundswell of support lead to Dead Oceans distributing the album in early 2018. Durand Jones & the Indications’ debut LP cost $452.11 to record, “including a case of beer” according to their website, and it sounds like it. While a low budget sound can bring intimate charm out of a record in some cases, the aggressive mixing and rough recording on the Indications’ debut only distract from the group’s performances.

On their sophomore album, released on March 1, vocalist Durand Jones, drummer and singer Aaron Frazer, guitarist Blake Rhein, bassist Kyle Houpt and keyboardist Steve Okonski brought their nostalgic ideas into the present with spotless production, refreshing instrumental details and striking performances.

“Morning in America” is an ambitious opener, establishing "American Love Call's" updated soul aesthetic while Jones paints a bleak picture of American life, crooning that he “can't see the dawn” while “mourning in America.” The song’s simple mix of steady drums, soft keys and spacy guitar gradually intensifies, adding layers of horns and strings before closing with gritty guitar solo from Rhein.

Most songs on "American Love Call" avoid “Morning in America’s” heavy themes, instead focusing on the familiar topics of romance and heartbreak. While this shift in focus leads to some predictable lyrics, "American Love Call" relentlessly amazes with its excellent performances, compensating for any lost substance.

“Don’t You Know’s” shimmering guitars, echoey vocals, snappy drums, dueling horn and string sections and Frazer’s Smokey Robinson-esque performance all capture a palpable atmosphere. Frazer’s delicate, shrill vocals effortlessly complement the smooth backing harmonies, while Jones’ soulful grit adds urgency to the track’s lovesick lyrics.

“How Can I Be Sure” stands out as another shining moment for Frazer, where his breezy vocals soar over layers of horns, string plucks and icy glockenspiel. The track’s instrumental gradually adds more and more layers before a complete change up at the midpoint, stripping back to focus on a new keyboard progression. Soon, the track builds into a bittersweet, cathartic outro with hand claps, smooth rhythm guitars and Frazer’s spacy howling, which seems to channel Beck’s most ambitious falsettos.

Even when Durand Jones & the Indications deliver more restrained performances, "American Love Call’s" consistently spellbinding production never ceases to delight with surprising embellishments and dynamic momentum. “Listen to Your Heart” begins as one of the album’s most mellow songs, but gradually builds into one of its most dramatic. After a short stretch of solo drums, soft guitar and Jones’ gentle verses slide in before backing vocals, horns, strings and bongos all lock into the beat one by one. In an instrumental break after the second chorus, plucks of strings and patient swells of horns trade back and forth before finally fading away.

After a tense instrumental intro with thickly layered strings and horn stabs, “Walk Away” begins with rattling high-hats, Jones’ mournful vocals and a gentle bassline, slowly introducing guitar licks with a tone that sounds ripped straight out of an early Steely Dan track. About a minute into the track, the beat explodes into a smooth mix dueling horns and strings, breezy rhythm guitar and momentous drum beat. After a beautiful flute solo, unified stabs of harmonious vocals, strings, horns and drums add more tension before leaving the track hanging on one last cymbal crash.

Although "American Love Call" is not an ambitious record in its songwriting, Durand Jones & the Indications execute their nostalgic soul with astounding passion and subtlety. If the Indications craft more ambitious songs while refining their style even further, this old school genre will be turning heads in contemporary music for years to come.

Listen to the album on Spotify here.