Thurston Moore

Rock’n’Roll Consciousness CAROLINE. CD/DL/LP

Lengthy psych devotionals continue Moore’s post-Youth purple patch.

Moore’s previous solo album, 2014’s The Best Day, suggested the career guitar reinventor was coasting, some spark of inspiration momentarily absent. That spark returns here, though, boasting the same line-up Ð teaming Moore with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, MBV bassist Debbie Googe and whipsmart sideman James Sedwards Ð and revisiting similar territory (the potent squall of previous SY waxings Bad Moon Rising and Murray Street), yet investing them with a revivified electricity. The devotional tone of the lyrics Ð in praise of rock’n’roll (Turn On), womanhood (Aphrodite) and the lysergic powers of love (Exalted) Ð play to Moore’s jazzbo poet strengths, while the longer track lengths (five songs in 40-odd minutes), offer space for Moore and Sedwards to indulge in extended conversation, stirring dark tremors and pensive explosions, and duelling cobwebby psychedelic guitar. The result is tender, powerful avant-rock to shake the walls.