With a recording history that dates back a decade and some seven remarkable albums, John Vanderslice has established himself as a genuine fixture in the San Francisco indie pop community. Having the advantage of owning his own base of operations – his highly regarded Tiny Telephone recording studio – Vanderslice freely dabbles in all sorts of sonic settings, creating a gloriously vibrant pastiche replete with rich arrangements and sunny textures. Romanian Names is merely the latest of these delightful offerings, an enthusiastic indulgence in varied musical hues that run the gamut from the massed harmonies of the ebullient opening track, “Tremble and Tear,” to the shimmer and sparkle of “Too Much Time” and steady shuffle of “D.I.A.L.O.” Vanderslice spares no measure when it comes to engineering the ambiance; a full regimen of strings, horns, keyboards and Mellotron aid and abet the collective effort, resulting in a sound that’s as radiant and expansive as anything by the Beach Boys, XTC or Todd Rundgren in his prime. A wonderful record all around, Romanian Names deserves to serve as Vanderslice’s calling card to broader recognition. Dead Oceans
