I’ll admit it – I’d never heard of Luna before. (Some lover of music I am.) So when Jetset Records sent Monkeycube a few advance copies of Luna’s latest album, Rendezvous, I gave it a clean, virgin listen-through before looking up anything about the band.

Immediately, Lou Reed and the laid-back style of The Velvet Underground came to mind as I sailed into the album with no preconceptions. An obviously veteran approach to song structure and a laissez-faire guitar accompaniment graced my Onkyo surround system at home, Infinity system in the car and iPod to and from work as I bathed in a week of dream-pop.

At first I thought this would be a good first date album, something gently playing in the background as a young couple plan out their future, or a great soundtrack to a single gal sitting in her Uptown Loft as she silently reads Harlequin novels in the light of a newly purchased lamp from IKEA.

A few more listens and the listener is privy to droning intensity through the “chill” songs and tempered, shimmering guitar licks in the “rock” songs. With no song much over five minutes, even the up-tempo tracks eventually give way to head lulling leisureliness. Straightforward atmosphere at its finest, my friends! And I just have to mention my favorite track, The Owl and the Pussycat, a modern take on Edward Lear’s poem of the same name.

After 13 years and seven studio album, producer Bryce Goggin (Phish, Pavement) has worked his magic on Luna’s final album as bandleader Dean Wareham heads the group into retirement. There are still some tour dates before they retire, and I encourage everyone to check them out if you haven’t already.