Time between grandma's house and getting the kids properly fed gave me approximately twenty minutes inside People's Records in Detroit over the holiday break. Brad the owner there is a mensch and knowing my time crunch, just pointed me to a stack of three long boxes of 45's and said "that's what you'll want to go through."

I don't take it lightly that level of accommodation and recommendation. Feeling understood in the context of a mecca of Detroit used vinyl is one of the unique true "joys" that I feel in my life. This is something not too many other people in the world would "get" as it were. A beautiful sunset, a delicious meal, a true love's embrace...dare I say these things are universal.

But someone knowing what I like, what I already own, what I am able to spend and how it intersects with the stock of his fine establishment...man it's just to die for.

So I dug a solid dozen or so 45's out of the boxes, and before checking out, I made a quick perusal of the "new" releases, largely an overlooked section in the grand scheme of People's offerings. Grabbed the latest LP by DAS and right next to it this one caught my eye.

As he tallied up the haul, I asked Brad if the LP was good. He said yeah. That was all I needed to hear. I trust him.

Landing flush on the blurry line where a record vacillates between music, to background noise, to therapeutic ambiance, this album is joyous and contemplative and hypnotic all at once. Side one is like "Music For Airports" at some points in its strict adherence to almost no deviation or variation once a theme or focus has been established. Repetitive to a strength, not to a fault.

Side two introduces echoed vocals, percussive elements and longer compositions, explorations that go both more traditional and more experimental, though not necessarily at the same time. And really, this is all just wonderfully hitting the spot right now. Warms my heart. Smile on my face. Making me believe in something bigger yet embracing in the small and the interconnectedness of low-budget limited release vinyl.

I cannot claim to be able to know all of you well enough for individualized recommendations, but speaking in broad strokes, of artistic appreciation and sense of supporting such endeavors, this record comes strongly recommended.