Album Review: EL VY - Return To The Moon

It takes time to get into this side-project from Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf. Berninger's baritone drawl is synonymous with the harmonic histrionics of The National, while Knopf's clever sonic twitchings mine more sinuous, art-rock fare with Menomena.

But there is an inherent playful shirking of the shackles on Return To The Moon that warms after repeat listens. Whether it be the elastic fun of the title track, the ebullient funk of I'm The Man To Be, the '80s space sway of Paul Is Alive, or the surprisingly dark spike of Sad Case, EL VY is a worthy diversion.