Each song here is a direct analog to one of Painlevé's films, each bearing their title. While "The Sea Horse" has a quick and bouncy movement to it - perhaps the kind of undersea movement that only sea horses are capable of - "Hyas and Stenorhynchus" moves with a slow, spooky, ten-legged creep, and "Shrimp Stories" is as playful as it is tasty. Other tracks, like "The Love Life of the Octopus" or the captivating opener "Sea Urchins" move in stages, capturing more than one mood of a creature. The loping bass lines of Mike Lewis draw you in, and the familiar complexities of drummer Georgia Hubley lay groundwork for yet more layers of organ, spare guitar, and all manner of feedback and tremolo. Even in the record's more abstract moments ("Liquid Crystals") the weird guitar noise sprawls over purposeful control. The album of course has no vocals, but they will not be missed. Yo La Tengo have built their reputation not as great singers, but as great songwriters and musicians, and this is a showcase for their talents.

I hope to soon be able to rent a video of these films, and if the soundrack isn't this album, I intend to turn the sound down and play it while I watch the movies, synching them up as best I can. I hear The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz go together nicely, but I've never tried it. Sounds like a wacky hippie thing, which I am by nature averse to. But I will tell you this - Swervedriver and Metropolis work fantastically well together. Try it.