Chazwick Bundick has really stepped up a notch on this, his sophomore release, setting the standard for 2011.
It’s a fiesty mix of lo-fi indie and funk, something of a stylish step away from the chillwave which Bundick is most commonly associated.
First track, Intro/Chi-Chi pulls off this metamorphosis deftly, taking some chill elements and gradually increasing the funk, which eventually explodes in New Beat, the second number on the album.
Go With You, the next tune, is gloriously summery, with a faint 60s vibe permeating the comping on the electric piano, and dreamy vocals. It’s hard to hold back a smile as this song plays out – if it weren’t for the magnificent production, it’d be considered cheesy, but hey ho, Bundick pulls it off.
Divina is a nicely multi-layered track with no vocals, so most of its charm shines through the bass guitar work. At only 2 minutes 18 seconds, it is actually the shortest track on the LP, shorter even than the intro, but it does its job effectively and is still very enjoyable.
Changing direction a little, Bundick returns to offer his mellow vocals to some intriguing guitar work on Before I’m Done – despite its happy vibe, it has a tinge of downbeat about it, something hard to place – like a hidden sorrow, and its dissonant ending helps add mystique to this effect.
Got Blinded slams into a higher gear, picking up the pace with, once again, dreamy, floaty vocals, and sweet harmonies that could rival the Beach Boys. I’m not going to lie, my foot was tapping throughout the entirety of this song. Chordal modulation helps give the track a rounded palette and keeps the interest flowing throughout its 3 minute duration.
Track number 7, How I Know is like musical sunshine: I was initially worried about its direction, but the chorus swoops in with gorgeous chords and vocals. Good vibrations, through and through, and let’s not allow Chaz Bundick’s vocal abilities go unnoticed here – some fantastic displays of fluctuation and modulation are to be heard in the background if you listen closely enough ;)
Light Black is very intriguing. Every album has it’s surprises, so I’ll leave it to you to discover this one. Needless to say, it too is a gem.
Perhaps the most radio friendly track on the album, Still Sound is the perfect embodiment of Toro Y Moi’s objectives, ethereal vocals and funky bass riff leave a unique and instantly identifiable fingerprint, with a light, smooth chorus and all manner of other joyous ephemera creeping in between the spaces during the instrumental solos and improvisational sections. Once again Bundick takes a simple premise and makes it his own, adding complexity and character, making it his own. Definitely one of the best tracks on the album.
The album’s penultimate song, Good Hold, is a very chilled track, making use of a recurring piano pattern to cement its detached motifs. The rhythms tread carefully, making sure not to get into the way of the melodies and some interesting flanging and phasing effects add a welcome sense of movement and spacial presence.
Elise provides the album’s conclusion, tying down all the various paths of exploration opened up earlier out in the album – the longest track on the album, it shifts between complex instrumental solos and vocal reprises, feel good vibes and dissonant chords, injecting just the right amount of pathos, to give the album some weight whilst still maintaining its cheeky summer feel. Pianos dance between melodic lines and themes are repeated and modified, creating a constantly changing, rich and rewarding soundscape and an aptly ingenious end to a fantastic body of work.
What I really love about the Toro Y Moi is the ethic. Bundick obviously puts his ideas first, and then uses whichever instrumentation and structural devices that serve him best in achieving his aim. The result is a rounded, complex piece with a clear sense of direction – the instruments aren’t getting in the way, they’re being used to reach a preset destination. It’s a rare trait in musicians these days, so I guess that is where the true beauty of this album lies.
Under The Pine is out later this year on Carpark Records
Follow Chaz Bundick’s Toro Y Moi project further, here
Ryan
February 15, 2011
hadn’t heard of him before so thanks, the link is to his 2010 album though ‘Causers Of This’.. which is still good
kataboom!
February 16, 2011
Hey thanks for the heads up on the broken link ;), should be fixed now!
Peace,
kata!
Ryan
February 20, 2011
thank you, grabbing the new one now.. if its anything like the last one I reckon im in for a treat.