This group came out of nowhere for me this year; I think I’d maybe seen the video for the single “Undertow” and liked it well enough, but they offered the whole album for streaming the week before it came out a couple of months ago, I happened to see it on one of the music blogs, and decided to try it out. I listened to the stream ALL DAY. Then bought the album, saw them live, and became a big fan all in the span of a few weeks.
Other than having female vocalists (all female members, in fact), the band is a bit off the track of what I listen to – it’s dreampop, I guess, but with a really kind of introspective yet experimental feel. It’s very well-orchestrated and musically precise, but with just enough of a wild, unpredictable edge, especially in the vocals, to justify their name. And it’s the kind of music that’s totally enveloping without being overwhelming. Listening to it live, it sounds like it’s coming from inside your head somehow.
I love every song on here, but I think the one that really sold me on the album as a whole is the one that’s the most different from the rest – when “Baby” came on, I was blown over. It’s a really simple, almost acoustic song, and that in comparison with the really intricate and full sound of the other songs was like, whoa. They can do that AND this too? And both are awesome? SOLD. I was only able to find a live recording of it, but the sound is pretty good. (Same venue I saw them at, but two days later.) Oh, the “Undertow” video is directed by Shannyn Sossamon, sister of the band’s bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg, and an original member of the band.