Luna - Indian Summer mp3

“Oh, it is a complicated business, loving art. It involves a lot more ill will than one might expect.” From the book, “Juliet Naked,” by Nick Hornby.

I often wonder what goes on in my head, I’m constantly asking myself why I’m purchasing an EP, or a Single ... I mean, I ask it right out loud, “Mouse, why are you buying this? The song’s going to be on the next album sooner or later.” Well that may be the case, and in all honesty its absolutely true, though there are those examples where I’m going to be treated to a number that doesn’t show up on any album, and never will [in this case "Egg Nog"], less of course it’s part of some boxed set, and then I’ll feel compelled to purchase that as well. Because you see, I’m a fan, and there are certain obligations associated with being a fan, not the least of which is that I’m scoring the music before anyone else has a chance to hear it, and I just have to have all that the band puts out, regardless of the number of alternative covers, promos, alternate takes, or limited edition coloured vinyl ... if I don’t have it, I feel that I’m missing something, and if I don’t get it now, I may be forever searching in vain.

The song “Indian Summer” showed up on the Slide EP, which was released at nearly the same time as this, though as I mentioned, Slide treated me to several here-to-fore unattainable tracks that I found living without impossible. Of course, the Beat Happening cover of "Indian Summer," The Dream Syndicate cover of “That’s What You Always Say,” and “Ride Into The Sun,” would not show up anywhere else for years, that is until the downloadable only edition of Lunified, which is composed of only cover songs, made its way out of the ether [I must mention that there are perhaps a dozen CD releases of Lunafied by Rhino, and command astounding prices]. And that brings us to a tiny instrumental entitled “Egg Nog,” which can be found as the B Side of the red vinyl release of “Time,” appears on no albums, and was done less than a handful of times live, and captured once by the Night Nurse at one of Luna’s three final shows at the Bowery Ballroom ... and for what it is, it’s well worth the time and effort finding. Mind you, it is an Import, but if the moon’s hanging just right in the sky, you may find a copy to layer your evening with washes of hypnotic feedback and reverb. Perhaps this necessity harkens back to my early years, when 45’s contained picture sleeves, and the B Sides could be pure magic ... who knows, all I know is that here I stand with three copies of this outstanding song, and there’s not one of them that I’d trade for anything.

“Indian Summer” is a spooky little number that floats along like a feather being blown across a crystal clear lake. The longer you listen the more full and atmospheric it becomes, filled with low end electronic drowns and swirling riffs that ebb and flow, and are nothing short of joyous, selfish, sheer pleasure. The lyrics are hypnotic as well, presented with Dean Wareham’s low, off the cuff, childlike visions of things both past and present, tumbled and mixed ‘til one is indistinguishable form the other. It’s a song that though you’re older, suggests that it’s perfectly fine to sit there on the swing, drag you feet in the dust and remember it all as if it were yesterday ... lovingly handing you one of those moments in time you so wish you could share with someone, but you can’t, because they belong to you alone ... less of course you happen to be Dean Wareham, remaking and turning The Beat Happenings nearly forgettable single into a priceless, lush, mind-bending wash of eternal sound and splendor.