After thirteen years between albums, Blue Cartoon returns with two releases that connect its power-pop history to psych folk, electronic experiments, and a broader musical palette. Blue Cartoon returns after a thirteen-year gap between albums with enough music to make the silence seem deceptive. Stars Align and Worlds Collide document a project that kept developing while the band’s public presence faded. One of the releases is a double album, giving this return the scale of three records. The two albums show a lot of variety and versatility while staying true to the band’s identity. The melodies and harmonies still connect to power pop, even when the arrangements move toward psych folk, electronic experiments, and sounds drawn from further afield. The circumstances behind these recordings help explain that range. Lee Elliott initially approached the material as a solo project before inviting David Loren to join a duo called The Spandrels. Working in Lee’s home studio, the pair built up recordings with contributions from musician friends. Without a drummer, they relied on machines and plugins, a practical solution that complicated their original plans for a more organic folk sound. Work paused when Blue Cartoon regrouped for Are You Getting On?, released in […]