Kevin Bronson on July 5th, 2016

0

San Diego’s Crocodiles are not only one of the most prolific indie-rock bands of their generation — this fall will make six albums since 2009, none that feel dashed-out — but they continue to morph. Their new single “Telepathic Lover,” in which singer-guitarist Brandon Whelchez warns about the dangers of probing his mind, is a spacey sortie flavored with twinkling piano and synth. A far cry from the razor-sharp guitar work of their past, it’s the first single from Crocodiles’ sixth album, “Dreamers,” due Oct. 21, and finds longtime collaborators Whelchez and Charles Rowell wanting “to challenge ourselves and our aesthetic,” Whelchez says. “It didn’t start as a conscious decision but within the first week Charlie’s mantra became ‘fuck guitars.’ Only one song has zero guitar but in general we tried to find alternatives to fill that space.” Informed by Whelchez’s bout with insomnia and two years of trying times — “relationship troubles, career woes, financial catastrophe, health issues,” he says — the album was recorded in Mexico City with an assist from sometimes-bandmate Martin Thulin. It’ll be out via Zoo Music.

||| Stream: “Telepathic Lover”