Third long player from Rainbow Kitten Surprise. This quintet from the North Carolina mountains are quick to cite artists like Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q as influences just as much as Modest Mouse. Their adventurousness and self-awareness is on full display on How To: Friend, Love, Freefall; a fresh, modern take on rustic Americana songcraft. The band may be in the middle of a seemingly-normal uptempo ballad before launching into a lurching, trap-inspired rhythm (“Painkillers”) and breaking out into a lush chorus of chilling harmonies. Fans of Bon Iver and Kings Of Leon, take note. Pressed on black vinyl, housed in gatefold jacket with code for digital download.

• black vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• limited edition
• music label: Elektra 2018

reviewed by plain tiger 04/2018