The Evermotion cover (Twitter/@Rhapsody).

The past four years have not been “easy wonderful” for steadfast Guster fans. However, their thirst for new music is remedied with the release of the indie rock band’s seventh studio album, “Evermotion.”

Produced by Richard Swift (current keyboardist of The Shins and touring bassist of The Black Keys), “Evermotion” was recorded in just three short weeks at Swift’s personal studio in the small town of Cottage Grove, Oregon. It was the ideal environment for experimenting without making anything sound too perfect.

Departing from their trademark of acoustic guitars and bongo drums, the group of Boston natives plays with new sounds, including slide guitars, an array of brass instruments, a glockenspiel and synthesizers. It’s as though they took “Do What You Want” (from their previous album), swapped a few traditional instruments for something more eccentric, and went from there. The evolution from “Ganging Up on the Sun” to “Easy Wonderful” to “Evermotion” is evident in the accumulation of layering in both the instrumentals and the vocals, creating a rich, multidimensional sound.

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“Long Night” begins the new record, alluding to an awakening and the idea of moving forward, hence underscoring the album’s title. Take the lyrics: “But now I finally see the sun/Drew out my wings/Flew over high tide/It looks much different in the daylight.” The album starts on an optimistic note, suggesting an air of inspiration and enlightenment.

Trumpets, trombones, and tubas add personality in “Doin’ It By Myself” and “Never Coming Down,” functioning as a call to rebellion in the former and as a celebration of Guster’s idea of a good time in the latter. Either way, it’s a party and everyone’s invited.

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The lovely slides on both guitar and vocals make “Expectation” one of the most enjoyable slow songs on the album. Layered vocal harmonies complement the thoughtful lyrics and make the song more colorful. 

“Simple Machine,” arguably the catchiest of the bunch, is fun and upbeat. It’s no surprise that it was selected as the first single from the new record, as it’s almost impossible to resist joining Ryan Miller as he sings, “I’m not a simple machine/I have become something else.”

“Kid Dreams” is a reflection on the perseverance one needs while growing up, especially when some things aren’t so great. The underlying bongos carrying the track add an additional hint of nostalgia for the band’s early days, nodding to “Parachute” and “Lost and Gone Forever.” The song’s adult counterpart, “It Is Just What It Is,” offers a realistic perspective on life from someone who’s trying to find their way like everybody else. Miller sings, “I’m not gonna lie/I get hung up about it/I stumble and fall and try to find myself a girl/Some things you can change /And some things you can’t resist.”

In a recent interview at the Bing Lounge, Miller explains, “Part of the reason it took four years [to make the album] is cause we didn’t feel like we had songs two years in that we wanted to put out. We didn’t feel like we had anything to say.” Their contemplative lyrics show the amount of thought that went into what they wanted to share.

It’s a seemingly simple and obvious message that life goes on despite whether we choose to live it our way or leave it up to fate. However, it offers encouragement to pursue what we love (people and passions) as well as a comforting pat on the back that says, “Time is always moving forward. Everything will be okay.”

In short, we “Lean into each turn/Seeking evermotion.”

"Evermotion" is available on iTunes.

Reach Staff Reporter Kelly Jonske here.