Album Review: Gardens & Villa via Secretly Canadian
Gardens & Villa, the self-titled debut LP out of Santa Barbara, CA, has remained a repeated listen since it first dropped July 5th. This dreamy, stoner take on post-punk California rock has proven a tough album to put down.
The disc opens with “Black Hills.” The sound is not dissimilar to their Secretly Canadian label mates Suuns. Though comparisons can be drawn, G & V’s sound is much more organic and accessible. Much of this is due to lead singer Chris Lynch’s soaring vocals.
“Cruise Ship,” the second song on the album brightens things up with a shinier keyboard line than “Black Hills” coupled with big handclaps. Gardens & Villa extend their hand insistent you join their trip:
This is how God made us to live
On California, the cruise ship
Bring your wife and your kids
California the cruise ship
The album hits its stride with “Orange Blossom.” Bouncy keyboards and flute float together above a wah pedal-driven bass line. This song is intoxicating and would work well in any DJ’s late night repertoire. With a track like this, it is hard to imagine how G & V escaped the California labels, landing instead in Bloomington.
G & V risk sending listeners into nap mode on “Chemtrails” heading directly toward sleepy, stoner territory. Bass drum, tambourine, bass, ambient piano riffs and a cello all dance quietly together as if the last song in some kind of opiate-laden high school dance. Heady stuff:
I don’t really want to go home
To places where they keep time
To places where we’d never find
Dandelions fly high
Through the marmalade sky
The last two lines serve as a Beatles reference. This proves apt as the track would feel at home amongst their LSD infused productions like Yellow Submarine. Not to worry, “Star Fire Power” picks the pace back up with a foot tapping, disco feel.
Gardens & Villa has the strange ability to sound similar thoughout without ever feeling redundant. The band hasn’t broken the mould musically, but the bottom line is this is REALLY good shit. Spare yourself the iTunes bonus track—a terrible, synth-heavy remix of “Orange Blossom.” The original does just fine, thank you.
Album Review: Vetiver ‘The Errant Charm’ via Sub Pop
The Sub Pop indie folk gang Vetiver just released their fifth full-length musical joyride The Errant Charm. A mix of slow, mellow jams intertwined with heavy power-hitters like “Ride Ride Ride” make their latest release a sampler platter of delight. Front man, Andy Cabic delivers a melting pot of vocal pride. Growing up in Virginia and traveling to school in North Carolina to form band The Raymond Brake helps display his southern soul.
San Francisco serves as Vetiver’s current home base, and has helped to evolve their original sound. It is easy to see new neighborhood influences like The Oh Sees peppered throughout this release. The best moment of the album for me is the folky, surf pop treat “Wonder Why” The crew savors this moment by their slow moving glowing introductory guitar lick.
“Short dollars, I’m spendin’, my piece of mind / tell me, when is this whole world gonna treat me/ me kind”
I am trying to contribute to Andy with my $9.99 purchase on iTunes and everyone should do the same. To learn more check out this great interview with Andy Cabic on Amoeblog.
Written by Brett McGrath
Album Review: Triptides release ‘Psychic Summer’
I am a sucker for the Surf Pop segment of the indie scene and Triptides punches you in the face with it – albeit in a mellow manner. San Francisco bands Sonny & The Sunsets, Thee Oh Sees, and Ty Segall have accounted for some of the sweetest Garage Rock that I’ve heard in years. Throw West Palm Beach, FL band Surfer Blood in the mix and now we are grouping together my current favorite bands. ENTER: Psychic Summer, Triptides’ first full-length LP from the indie label Beach Tapes.
I was intrigued by this group after a discovery via bandcamp. Their EP Tropical Dreams was a natural extension of the sound I’ve been digging from the aforementioned Surf Pop circuit. After hearing Tropical Dreams, I could not believe that this band had escaped me. Upon research and investigation I came to the shocking discovery that this music had not originated in a state where a sunburns are as common as parking tickets. These guys were from my home state. These guys were from Bloomington, Indiana.
Psychic Summer is a group of songs that defines hard work, dedication, and authenticity. Opening tracks “Going Under” and “Pier” help display their sound but also underscore their improvement since the earlier EP. Triptides has not changed their formula they have only evolved it. Songs, like “Outlaw” display their dedication to simple strong guitar riffs while pairing it with effective lyrics. The line, “There will come a time when I will go way to another town, never settle down” helps to display the nomadic message of Triptides.
It is no coincidence that this band from Bloomington, IN is debuting their album in San Diego, Fullerton and Santa Cruz, California. Their roots come from 2,100 miles away but you’d never be able to tell upon discovery. I respect their wandering toes and dedication to find their niche. It takes a novelist’s eye to find a seam in indie rock. Triptides is a sailor’s step in front. Buy their album for $4 here:
Written by @IndyMcGrath
Thought on Tracks 