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SUNDAY
The Mean Red Spiders play “oceanic rock.” In his 1989 book, Blissed Out: The Raptures of Rock, Simon Reynolds coined the term to describe a school of bands that “attempt to rediscover lost innocence and peace. It’s hypnotic, or narcotic, a fall back into the blissful continuum of unconsciousness.” That’s a good description of the Spiders’ sound: Their music drifts placidly, floating upon the lapping swells of guitars, borne in womblike serenity. The band’s “Never Heard of You” walks a mile in these shoegazers’ Docs. This is lush, heavenly music, dreamy pop swaddling the childlike voice of Lisa Nighswander, whose sweet, languid vocals skim in and out of fluffy clouds of shimmering guitars. “Secret” harkens back to an even earlier oceanic rock as it recalls the sounds of Donovan’s 1969 hit, “Atlantis.” The largely instrumental “Left” is a lullaby that gently rocks you off to slumberland. The seas are not always so serene on the Spiders’ new CD Starsandsons, though. The roiling “Grace” storms like Mogwai. And “Azimuth of Panama” proceeds at a more measured pace, similar to Th’ Faith Healers’ take on Krautrock. The two strains of oceanic rock, the harsh and the smooth, meet on the beach, then ride off together on the autobahn. With Kaleidoscope. At 9 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1831 14th St. NW. $5. (202) 667-7960. (Mark W. Sullivan)