After a cursory listen to the first half of Macha's Forget Tomorrow, the group's first full-length since 1999's See It Another Way, it might appear the band had forsaken its MO of intermingling drone-y indie rock and various Asian folk elements -- the title song/ opener is so 1982: gloomy yet danceable, full of sleek synthesizer lines and ennui-saturated (wannabe) British vocals. Happily, the remainder of Forget Tomorrow finds Macha further refining and improving upon its unique synthesis. While previous offerings could be more pleasantly novel than memorable, Tomorrow more fully integrates aspects of minimalism and Pacific Rim elements into engaging songs. With its languid, gauzy vocals, haunting minor-key melody, restrained guitar feedback, and trancelike percussion, "C'mon C'mon Oblivion" suggests a cross between Wish You Were Here-era Pink Floyd and Millions Now Living Tortoise. Pinnacle: The undulating "No Surprise Party" shimmers with wraithlike voices; flickering vibraphone; a cyclic, prog-y pulse; and an enigmatic wail (violin? a traditional Asian instrument?). Though inconsistent, Forget Tomorrow holds enough mysterious splendor to rate a thumbs-up.
