Another month, another release by Robert Pollard, right? No, not quite.

On first glance, Bob’s new EP Silverfish Trivia looks like it contains nearly as many instrumentals as it does actual songs, but it plays through like a singular twenty-minute piece. A highly abstract and slightly more mellow piece to be sure, but it’s a whole and needs to be treated as such.

The opening and closing pieces are little more than a pulsating string section framing some of the most gloriously lush songs we’ve seen out of the restless captain. You’ve also got the oughta-be-a-contender “Circle Saw Boys Club”, the beautifully creamy “Touched To be Sure” and the sprawling multi-part epic “Cats Love a Parade”. All are good on their own, but they add up to one of the best mood pieces I’ve found in awhile.

Pollard’s lyrics are as abtract as ever, ranging from obtuse lines like “airborne housing makes me fly” to the more direct but no less confouding “here at Dicks & Doughnuts / we’re fresh out of doughnuts”. It’s mostly impenetrable stuff, but they still paint an interesting portrait to hang in the musical frame.

Silverfish Trivia is a short wonder of a record. I like it.

Robert Pollard - Circle Saw Boys Club.mp3

You can order Silverfish Trivia from the always handy www.robertpollard.net!