Sure to appeal to fans of M83, BØRNS, Blur, MUTEMATH and Twenty One Pilots, the three-piece from Music City, who effortlessly blend indie pop, alternative rock and electronica, make music that is very different to the usual sounds emanating from the Country Music Capital of the World.
Made up of JT Daly (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Chad Howat (bass, piano, programming) and Nick Aranda (guitar), the group first came together back in 2004 and released their debut album, Absence, in 2009. Their second LP, The Peace of Wild Things, followed in 2012.
The new album’s first two singles, “Laugh About It” and “Chariots,” are available now. “Chariots” can be heard on alternative radio stations such as SiriusXM’s Alt Nation and was also chosen for the FIFA 17 Official Gameplay Trailer.
The choral “Intro” kicks things off and is really quite lovely. “Writing on the Wall,” the bouncy second track, is very different but not without its appeal. “Chariots” has a strangely infectious melody helped along by electronically enhanced vocals (which drift in and out of falsetto) and a manic drumbeat. It also includes a chilled out, piano-led break.
“Blue Collar Daydream” is another quirky voyage into the threesome’s imagination, while the title track is simply gorgeous, recalling Coldplay at their most earnestly melodic. The other single to be released, “Laugh About It,” has an infectious tune and helps reinforce the Blur comparisons.
Other standout moments include “Zhivago,” “Bleary” and the pleasingly smooth vibe of “Balconies.” At 16 tracks, this album is a little overlong and not every song is a winner. However, the songs I liked I really liked and all in all I would say this is a very satisfying offering from an interesting bunch of musicians.
The group will embark on a headlining U.S. tour that kicks off on October 27 in Baton Rouge. The nationwide jaunt will include stops in Texas, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, DC, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Orlando, before winding up in Nashville.
For more information, visit their official website.
