David Kilgour's first band, The Clean, changed the face of rock music when they kickstarted New Zealand's pop underground in the early ’80s. More than 25 years later, Kilgour still loves music but loves life more, which is why he's still making records that are monuments to good old-fashioned song craft. This is his third record for Merge and sixth solo affair. It takes some cues from its predecessors, the shimmering, trippy A Feather in the Engine and the lush, soul-tinged Frozen Orange, without sounding like either of them. The Far Now is filled with gorgeous melodies, singing that conveys subtle emotion, and effortlessly eloquent guitar playing.