Here We Go Magic: s/t

Label: Western Vinyl

What’s in a name? Here We Go Magic is the new nom de musique employed by indie singer-songwriter Luke Temple, whose previous work was solid if a bit unremarkable. Things have changed: The reborn Temple seems to have soaked up cues and hints from dozens of sources old and new, and this album is so personable and likable you might as well treat it like his second debut. Temple still does pretty much everything himself, so the synth textures and (apparent) electronic percussion shouldn’t come as a surprise; the record’s organic warmth and feeling of wholeness is. Catchy quasi-African rhythms crop up frequently without sounding too much like Vampire Weekend or Paul Simon (you know, the only two other Caucasian artists to ever use such an influence), but in the end, it’s Temple’s unique voice and understated pop wiles that make the Magic. Fans of Yeasayer and the aforementioned artists: Here you go. (M.L. Thrope)