The London-based, multinational foursome put their diverse musical and cultural backgrounds to great effect on their eclectic debut EP
Cristobal and the Sea/ Peach Bells EP
It has been exactly two weeks since the New Year holiday concluded, but if you’re anything like us, the post-holiday blues are still being heavily felt. You’re swamped with work and won’t probably be able to take a vacation for a while. But, hey, things are not all that bleak. For starters, 2015 looks like it’s going to be pumping with exciting new releases from veteran artists like Madonna, Bjork, Marilyn Manson and Rihanna, to name but a few. What’s more, fresh faces are also lurking over the horizon, including this one particular group called Cristobal and the Sea, a quartet made up of members from different European countries.
Comprised of Alejandro Romero from Spain (bass and vocals), Leila Seguin from Corsica/France (flute and vocals), Joao Seixas from Portugal (guitar and vocals), and Josh Oldershaw from England (drums), Cristobal and the Sea describe their sound as “tropicalia pop”. Judging from their debut EP, Peach Bells, helmed by indie producer Rusty Santos (Animal Collective, Grizzy Bear, Ariel Pink, Owen Pallett), they are right on the money, delivering a well-balanced dose of Mediterranean and Caribbean influences from mellow bossa nova, nu jazz to hazy psychedelia.
Opener Gardens kicks off with a soft, wistful flute intro evocative of a Cafe del Mar compilation, then about less than a minute in, it expands into a swirl of vocal harmonies underpinned by the bossa nova percussion. Inspired by Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet, follow-up track Disquiet is quite a charmer. Here, the organ synths and lilting flute conspire to worm their way into your ears with a slice of tuneful psychedelia. An air of deep melancholy in the vocal harmonies offers an intriguing twist, and by the end of the song, you’ll be left somewhat confounded, not knowing whether to feel happy, sad, or both.
The more upbeat numbers like Violet Tear and My Love (Ay Ay Ay) find the foursome knee-deep in the slightly experimental waters. Apart from the supple rhythm section, which by now has become the backbone of their sound, there’s also a mish-mash of influences like indie, trip-hop, samba, and flamenco at play. Think a cross between American indie outfit Yeasayer and freak-folk Devendra Banhart. Final cut Zorro completes the cycle with a splash of psychedelia infused with flowing flute and seductive Spanish guitar.
While it was released late last year, the Peach Bells EP does a great job in heralding a thrilling prospect for what the music scene has to offer in 2015. All five tracks ooze warmth and blissful abandon — a huge feat considering they were recorded in only a week and most of the instrumentation was captured in one or two live takes. The only shortcomings of Peach Bells are its rather short length (we know it’s meant to be an EP, but still) and its power to further exacerbate the post-holiday blues, making you yearn for that tropical getaway even more. n
THE PLAYLIST
Ornaree/ Thanon
After sharing the first single, Sak Wan, from her forthcoming album back in October last year, the queen of Thai garage rock finally returns with a long-overdue second cut called Thanon, or “Road”. This latest release is a solid, guitar-heavy alternative rock jam that marks quite a departure from Ornaree’s usual lo-fi sound. It’s a welcome change and we dig the more polished edge that Ornaree is offering on this release. In fact, we’re vaguely reminded of Scottish band Garbage and their earlier materials, which is quite nice.
Kanye West (featuring Paul McCartney)/ Only One
The most unlikely pairing in music so far this year goes to West and McCartney who collaborate on Only One, a new single taken from the former’s upcoming new album. Inspired by the rapper’s mum and, by extension, his daughter North, the song marks one of the several collaborations between himself and the former Beatle. It’s a gorgeous ballad with an equally beautiful message where West croons, “Hello my only one/Just like the morning sun/You keep on rising till the sky knows your name/Hello my only one/ Remember who you are/Know you’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakes.”
Fences (featuring Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)/ Arrows
Arrows finds Seattle indie-rock outfit Fences teaming up with the forces behind mega smash Thrift Shop (ie Grammy award-winners Macklemore and Ryan Lewis). Here, Fences frontman Christopher Mansfield absentmindedly repeats, “Arrows land we’re falling/Arrows we’re falling” over a catchy melody while Macklemore offers his two bits about the plight of being famous. “I came too far, I’m too great/But I’m too scared and I’m too afraid/To stare this world into its face,” he raps. “My eyelids closed, light turns to grey/The cameras off, the show is over/You close the curtains and just escape.”
Philip George/ Wish You Were Mine
Trust the UK to churn out exciting young dance producers consistently over the past few years. The latest to join the ranks is 21-year-old Philip George, a bedroom producer who got discovered on SoundCloud and struck it big with his debut single Wish You Were Mine. Sitting on the number two spot on the UK singles charts at the time of writing, the track boasts a pristine house production and samples Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour. So far this is the only musical contribution from George, and we can’t wait to see what other tricks the young producer has up his sleeve.
Jens Lekman/ Postcard #1
Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman has always been known for his playful personality and the lyrics that are both witty and tongue in cheek, but with his new project, the follow-up to 2012’s I Know What Love Isn’t, he’s looking to change things up a bit. According to Lekman, he’s set to release a brand new song and share with his fans every week, and Postcard #1 is the first taste of what to follow. The song is a contemplative mid-tempo piano ballad that showcases the singer’s more serious side. n
