Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Having seen the Lemurs consistently put on better and better performances in Austin clubs for over a year, it’s about time there’s a record to pump at home.
The band consists of top-quality musicians who thankfully don’t shy away from a complicated and layered approach to songwriting. While the album is full of hooks and addictive melodies, most songs on the record go beyond the normal pop constructions and incorporate funked-out instrumental freakouts and breakdowns that really elevate the Lemurs several cuts above the rest of the dance-ready indie powerpop groups out there.
With its deep headbop beats, overdriven synths, interlaced guitar melodies, dark velvet vocals, and fabulously chaotic electro-funk explosion, “Berlin,” a crowd favorite at live shows, is probably among the top ten singles coming out of Austin. Another stand-out track, “They Do What They Like,” features pleading, Cure-esque vocals and fuzzy-twang, surf-rock guitar riffs building on staccato rhythm breaks to create a noir dance anthem.
At 34 minutes, the band’s self-titled debut fits somewhere between an EP and a full-length, but it contains a couple of real gems that will find good homes on party and road-trip compilations; and makes me curious about their next effort.
- anatol ziege
No comments:
Post a Comment