Teriyakis

Previous EP releases by this Lawrence-based quintet have reduced normally eloquent writers to incoherent abstract poetry ("Unearthly tones leave the speaker cones.... Locomotive lumbering drums set a Salvador Dali-like skeletal framework," rambled one reviewer), so its debut full-length, packed with 16 intricate compositions, might leave some critics at a loss for words. The Teriyakis' latest effort starts simply enough, with an easygoing groove paired with overlapping dialogue, then shifts gears with the skittering experimental guitars and solid melody of "Candela," which manages to craft a perky hook while a steady stream of noise simmers in the background. Capable of tangible, traditional indie-rock gems, such as "Peter Lorre's Big Red Munster," the group is equally adept at fizzing minimalist fare, such as "Seesaw" (with its wordless chorus punctuated by haunting horns), and jangling Velvet Underground-style pace-shifters, such as "Inside the Samba Drome." The record reaches its peak with the devastating pairing of "Picaresque and Proud" and "Return of the Panda," both of which offer enchanting melodies and stunning instrumental prowess. Like Sonic Youth and Guided by Voices, the Teriyakis filter catchy pop through a web of artsy noise, and the results are adventurous and appealing, if not always instantly accessible.