Village of Spaces

A real pop left turn from Village of Spaces as Dan Beckman-Moon takes the band out from under the awning of psychedelic folk and embarks on a clean-shaven, heart-on-sleeve sojourn. The last few albums from VoS have had a kind of mossen quiver to them, but from the very first strains of “Secret Recipe,” it’s clear that this is a very different mindset. Laced with propulsive beats, close-mic earnestness, and a positivity that’s sorely lacking in quite a few undertakings these days, That’s Understanding finds Dan embracing sweetness over sarcasm. Some old familiar names crop up, with Dan’s partner Amy Moon finding her way into the mix, though in a much more reserved manner than on past albums. The presence of Caleb Mulkerin of Big Blood feels apt as the record shares quite a lot of temperament with the band’s recent output, forging a similarly sanguine path. Members of Impractical Cockpit and violinist Kaethe Hostetter (Debo Band, QWANQWA) round out the ranks.

Swaying on warm breezes between the Paul Simon melancholy of “Mama Did,” and the more spare pieces like “Agnes of Rainbows” and “Little Wind At Sea” the album shines in moments with and without the percussive patter. The latter two bring to mind the simple joys of Little Wings, which ought to serve as a nice touch point for those looking to orient themselves to the new sound. The Santa Cruz environments creep into the recordings — wooded chirps and the lap of waves — hearkening back just a little to the aughts wave of folk prominence. The album is as straightforward as Beckman-Moon has ever been and, while it might chafe some looking for the Village of Spaces of the past, divorced from expectations That’s Understanding is one of the most serene pieces to come out of 2023. In a year full of furrowed browns and clenched teeth, it offers a few moments of peace.

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