Clearly, Laughing Man’s The Lovings (63-69) was meant to be heard on vinyl. The hiss of the record player is almost audible as the first bluesy notes of swinging opener “Blueberry Bees” sputter. From there, time travel is easy. Everything from the lo-fi production to the chord progressions and even the title suggest that the debut release from the local trio is an homage to music of a long-gone era. It’s not difficult to imagine that a song like “Blueberry Bees” could have charmed the ears on the other end of an AM radio. However, for all of its qualities, The Lovings (63-69) is more homage than throwback, thanks to the nuances that put this album squarely in the present.

Laughing Man thrives on its ability to apportion out restraint. Many of the songs have repetitive chord progressions and minimalist drumming, which further accentuate the unhinged, trembly howl of singer/guitarist Brandon Moses. However, even Moses’ vocals are slightly muted by low mixing to keep them from utterly overwhelming the songs. The album feels like it’s simmering — and when the energy boils over, it seems that much more potent.