New six song EP by San Fran's finest purveyors of minimalist fog pop out today via Tough Love. The title isn’t a nod to the folktale or ballet in any real way, but to the fact that it all has ended up in the collective imagination as an object, vaguely recognizable, a little suggestive, and mostly blank. Karina Gill, Cindy’s songwriter, likes to make use of that kind of resonance to connect sound and experience. Swan Lake continues the stripped-down habits of previous Cindy releases, while adding a few departures and left-turns along the way, the new drumless four-piece configuration of the band liking to work at the essentials and the elements to say exactly what’s needed. In other ways, these songs present a soft filigree that’s unusual for their recordings. Gill’s songs strike this balance too: almost nonchalant reporting tied up in unexpected knots. A ride in an elevator connects up with questions about peace and/or the nature of things; the title track wonders about associative thinking and associative feeling; 'The Bell' is an account of one of those times when everything makes sense but you can’t explain it; and there’s the scene of a party viewed with admiration for how friends can love each other. In short, another perfect Cindy record, determinedly theirs and theirs only. Cindy headline the WOE sixth birthday celebrations in London on 31st October, just before heading out for a wider UK/EU tour.
