Simplicity

Simplicity is a record on which TESLA foregrounded bluesy guitar, a warm band ensemble and human-touch melody. Not raising the density of the sound more than necessary, the nuances of the riffs and singing arrive directly, so the breathing of the playing feels close. As the title suggests, it shaves off the needless and frankly puts forth the band’s plain, sincere appeal. On “Ricochet,” “Rise and Fall,” “Cross My Heart” and “Life Is a River,” a stance of valuing the feel of the songs themselves over flashy processing runs consistently while keeping hard-rock strength. Songs like “So Divine...” and “Sympathy” show the band’s lyrical side too. Seemingly relaxed, the songs’ cores are thick, and the playing has a firm cohesion cultivated over years. Including songs like “Honestly” and “Time Bomb,” it is a full record for fully savoring the unadorned sincerity so characteristic of TESLA.