A Final Blast of Summer From SUSTO’s ‘Time in the Sun’
John Amen
Posted On October 27, 2021
With their latest album, Time in the Sun, SUSTO release their most pop-infused and rhythmically adventurous album to date. Replete with ebullient sounds, the project arrives at the onset of autumn, providing a reminder that lightheartedness and a sense of buoyancy, often associated with summer, are perennially accessible, regardless of weather or worldly conditions.
The set launches with “Time, Love & Fun,” featuring a skillfully picked acoustic guitar and loose blend of voices — a dreamy reconfiguration of the ’60s and ’70s Laurel Canyon playlist. Midway, the track changes course, enmeshing a crunchy electric guitar and driving percussion, Justin Osborne’s vocals foundering in the mix. The song operates as a diptych, introducing the rustic and indie-rock aspects of the album as well as many of the flourishes, textures, and ambient touches that recur throughout the sequence.
“Get Down” is an uplifting, dance-y, and hyper-catchy track reminiscent of Alt-J’s 2014 hit, “Left Hand Free.” “Been so long since I seen your face / … in the backseat of your brother’s car,” Osborne sings on “Summertime,” employing a universal image of teendom, one that points to youthful innocence and sexual initiation.
“Be Gone from Me” is a hook-ridden and riff-y tune that epitomizes the band’s knack for soft-loud dynamics. With “Good Right Now,” Osborne celebrates an “up” time — effortless wins and encouraging serendipities — following an extended period of struggle (“I feel good right now / … like I am finally making my way / down the river toward Avalon”).
On “Double Rainbow,” Osborne’s voice is slightly distorted, giving the track a garage-y vibe. A tasteful steel-guitar part contrasts with the song’s staccato rhythms. The album closes with the piano-driven and relatively minimal/less layered “All Around the World.” “A new day is coming,” Osborne sings, his sultry voice wrapped in bursts of fuzz.
Time in the Sun exemplifies SUSTO’s versatility, the band successfully hybridizing elements of the folk, rock, pop, and Americana songbooks. Osborne’s lyrics often evoke wistfulness by touching on the ephemerality of existence, though overall the album oozes an infectious optimism. Time in the Sun is a fluid and engaging listen, a sequence that conjures the tropical side of life, even as the air outside grows colder.
