Festivals are a slog, and due to their marathon nature, many attendees seek out a certain kind of energy from afternoon sets. Though Land of Talk has never played Pickathon, acts which they've supported (including Patrick Watson and Wolf Parade) have, and Elizabeth Powell's new album, Indistinct Conversations, feels like a stretch out in a field, hands folded behind your head, eyes closed.
Land of Talk has been around for a good while, but the Canadian musicians are self-described slow-burners. This subdued approach to release and promotion matches their brand of soft indie, which faintly resembles Hovvdy or Mothers, or maybe even a bit of Frances Quinlan, but Powell is the original. Standout tracks on this summer gem are the lofty and meandering Compelled and poppier A/B Futures, but the album also includes acoustic moments as well as light spoken recordings, giving it a splash of variation. Indistinct Conversations is an excellent album to soundtrack the dog days of summer, even as festivals are cancelled. Recline on a patch of grass some afternoon this week and give it a spin.