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Feb 08, 2017 Web Exclusive By Lauren Hardy

Todd Fancey is partly responsible for some of indie rock’s finest pop gems as the guitarist for The New Pornographers. As Fancey, he is partly responsible for bringing back George Michael. Love Mirage‘s ornately played 10-track olive branch for pop music’s future is the third addition to the Fancey catalog, but its lush suburban-disco guile has the satiation of the beginning to a new era. The new era is “pop is back, baby.” Love Mirage is packed with guilty pleasures, suitable for the backseat, filled with brassy breezes, sugary vocals, ‘70s disco-street crests, and a flautist.

“Carrie” reverbs into a brilliant drum-dance fiasco, basking in horns and echoing vocals, while “In the Morning Light” carries us into a brilliant ecstasy in the clouds suspended somewhere between the theme song from Taxi and ABBA’s greatest hits. “Turn Around Baby” is fruit. It is so shimmery and tender, with impressive vocal chops of 13-year-old prodigy Olivia Maye, one can’t help but pick it. Repeat.

Somewhere between the number of times Fancey employs the word “Baby” and the number of times we feel embarrassed to be enjoying this, we get lost and don’t even care. There are hints of Hall & Oates arrangements, with a touch of Belle and Sebastian on the baton, just a few octaves sweeter, for good measure. We are unabashedly taken with the parade. (www.facebook.com/fanceymusic)

Author rating: 6.5/10