Whenever they find time to record,
Modern Cosmology -- the project of
Laetitia Sadier and the Brazilian group
Mombojo -- tap into a chemistry so strong it endures even though they're usually separated by thousands of miles. Their debut EP, 2017's
Summer Long, was the result of a two-week retreat where
Sadier joined the band in Recife, and the spontaneity of recording whatever and whenever they wanted could be felt in its swirling Tropicalia, psychedelia, and electronic pop. By contrast,
What Will You Grow Now? was nearly seven years in the making, with
Stereolab's reunion, the political climate of the late 2010s and early 2020s, and the COVID-19 global pandemic stretching out
Modern Cosmology's creative process. Despite these delays -- and the fact that
Mombojo and
Sadier had to record their parts remotely -- the project's first full-length is a lovely and thoughtful statement of purpose. Instead of hopping from style to style as they did on
Summer Long, this time
Modern Cosmology bring all the elements of their music together, blending electronics, hand drums, strings, and guitars with elegant ease.
Mombojo's performances may be even more exploratory than they were on
Summer Long, and the way "Making Something" moves from noodling to a balmy meditation guided by electric piano complements
Sadier's musings on connection and communication perfectly.
What Will You Grow Now?'s more cohesive sound also brings
Modern Cosmology's viewpoint into clearer focus. Creating and celebrating things of worth and beauty -- especially when life makes that difficult -- is at the top of the band's mind, although
Sadier takes a more philosophical tack than she did with
Stereolab. On some of the standout tracks, she uses timeless, fable-like imagery to address the repressive forces that were on the upswing during the making of the album. The funky yet contemplative "Consent for Life'' compares "what was blocked" to a stone that cannot flourish; on the bossa nova-tinged title track,
Sadier sings of a "little worm" over intricately burrowing synths, reminding listeners that the seemingly insignificant parts of life can be the most important. Even at its most pensive, pleasure is vital to
Modern Cosmology's music, and they always temper their messages with gloriously sensual sounds.
Sadier contemplates the "potential of every mortal soul" on "A Time to Blossom," but the bongos and breezy synths behind her conjure a summer stroll. By expressing humanity's unstoppable need to create and connect on
What Will You Grow Now?,
Modern Cosmology exemplify how beautiful and inspiring the results of that can be. ~ Heather Phares
