Last year, Velvet Blue Music dropped a bomb on us: we were getting new Neon Horse! Just when you thought you’d seen it all, they hit us with one more: we’re getting new Crash Rickshaw, too! 17 years after their sophomore release, An Unknown Clarity (good luck finding a copy!), the fourpiece post-punk project is back with four brand new tracks, collectively titled Big Sir.

In case you were wondering, yes, Rickshaw’s original line-up is all present and accounted for: Joby Harris on vocals, Randy Torres on guitar, Steve Dail on bass, and Alex Albert on drums. And not only are they back in full force, but they’ve even upped their game. No shade to their previous albums at all, but this is arguably their best sounding material. It’s also likely their most accessible; while “Newports” certainly brings in some of the punk flavor I was expecting, it’s a lot less frenetic than the band could be before. “Big Sir” and “Dead Branches” feel really similar to Starflyer 59 and Lo Tom, with their mid-tempo, crunchy guitar rock sound and shoegaze influence. My personal favorite is the closer, “Sugar Shack,” which I feel showcases each band member at his best. It also speaks to my nostalgic heart, as Harris sings about the good old days in Southern California (where I also grew up). I just love the chorus: “Surf City every week / I’ve got a lot of friends, they’re down in Huntington Beach / ‘98, man what a scene / I’ve got a lot of memories in Huntington Beach / I’ll meet you at the Sugar Shack.” It’s simple, but it’s enough to spark my own memories.

Crash Rickshaw was always a sorely underrated band, even by much of the Tooth & Nail fandom. Being touted as a Project 86 side project and then sounding completely different likely caused a lot of disappointment and unfair dismissal back in the day, despite their self-titled album being such a unique and well-written entry in T&N’s back catalog. Big Sir is a solid (hopefully) first step in the band’s return, and it’s a great addition to my library. If the band has any intention of putting out more music, I’m here for it.