By Tony Van Spaendonk
Lunar Vacation begin their second album, Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire, with “Sick,” a song reminiscing on a unique night the band spent at a comedy open-mic. This track, like a lot of the indie band’s work, is catchy, quirky, and nestled in the warmth of the group’s close-knit friendship. “Comedy is perfect when it’s ugly,” sings lyricist/vocalist/guitarist Gep Repasky, a sentiment of embracing happy accidents that echoes throughout the album. Lunar Vacation seem to relax out of the careful movement of their first album Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp and bring an organic feel to their easy indie-rock sound on Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire.
With some nudges from producer Drew Vandenberg (Faye Webster, SPELLLING, of Montreal collaborator), Lunar Vacation pulled away from their tendency towards perfection, especially on the single “Set the Stage.” The gaze-y treat breached demo status with some reluctance from Repasky. “It took some convincing on my end to fully realize this song,” Repasky said in conversation with Wonderland, “but that’s the best part about making music with my bandmates; they are the voice of reason and I trust them.” Originally an acoustic demo, “Set the Stage” captures Lunar Vacation’s maturing sound and newfound edge – one of embracing mistakes.
In the spirit of growth, the high school friends turned indie-rock starlights explore the rougher side of their sound. “Erase all the B’s,” recorded live, is a soft acceptance of things that cannot be changed. Teetering organs and gentle strums accented by chiming cymbals cushion Repasky’s expressive pleas for understanding. Lyrics “Stop being so bitter, it’s gonna get better” rattle around the track aptly titled “Bitter,” steering Lunar Vacation back on the aggressively optimistic front. “Fantasy” blurs the lines between reality and daydreams with glimmering swells, layered vocals, and a meandering bass track. Lunar Vacation comes back around on the feel-good track “Just for Today,” an affirmation blooming with endearing percussive details.
Sprinkled with stories of break-ups, fantasies, and unrequited love, Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire is a leap in Lunar Vacation’s growth as a fan-favorite indie unit. On their first album, Lunar Vacation proved their strengths as talented young musicians with a knack for friendly indie-rock. This sophomore album marks their ability to let go of the fear that drives perfection and inches the group towards authenticity. There is no denying that Lunar Vacation is a special young band with lots to look forward to.
All this positive momentum hits the road in February for Lunar Vacation’s North American tour. Stop being so bitter and come see Lunar Vacation in Austin on April 15th at Parish.