Midweek pick, October 17th, 2024: Modern Flora

Dylan Hicks & Small Screens: Modern Flora (Soft Launch Records)

“If Spring comes like they say, I’ll patch it up with the super. And brush up my Spanish.”

So sings Dylan Hicks on “If Spring Come Like They Say,” the opening piece on Modern Flora. A few minutes later, after an instrumental interlude suggesting some passing of time, the narrator does indeed showcase that he has been brushing up when agreeing with his female companion’s assertion that “It doesn’t really matter at all”, repeating in Spanish, “No importa nada.”

Modern Flora is the second album (albeit listed as an EP in some places) by Hicks and the band Small Screens, a nonet — counting Hicks, who also plays piano in addition to sing here — of reeds, brass, cello, guitar, double bass and drums. Released in early September, they present five pieces, two of which go over 10 minutes, of lushly arranged music somewhere between jazz and sophisticated pop rock. Instrumental lines interweave like whistling passersby, the beat mostly kept at a nice stroll or gentle sway. Although “The Head Of a Dog” has a distinct bounce to it, and there’s some gnarly energy and heft on display on the title track.

Add to that, smart and evocative lyrics, sung by Hicks in his soft voice, that can be both melancholic and witty, and quite often both of those things at the same time.

Some sections here remind me of Jens Lekman, but with exploratory horns instead of strings. Steve Pick, whose recent post I have to credit for bringing this wonderful album to my attention, hears traces of Paul Simon. And sure, I can hear that too. I’m also reminded of the jazz ensemble Fight the Big Bull’s collaboration with singer-songwriter David Karsten Daniels on I Mean To Live Here Still. But most important of all, I just hear a terrific album of lyrical and musical wonder.