OKComputer1016
07/30/08, 09:26 AM
Sunfold - Toy Tugboats
Record Label: Tertpsikhore Records
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Talk about commitment to one’s field of work: this Kenny Florence character balances his spare time between the endlessly interesting indie-pop rockers Annuals and this, the alternate universe version of the exact same people. While Sunfold’s identity is identical physically, the groups are worlds apart musically; this outlet finds the guys exploring jazzier sounds, a less trippy but equally sunny approach. Both groups play shows regularly and have recorded records concurrently.
Oh, did I forget to mention dude owns a record label and a music theory school and is writing a book on theory? So then logically, you’d expect the music on Toy Tugboats to sound cluttered or forced – there’s no way there could be that much stuff going on in somebody’s brain who wasn’t Mike Patton. But amazingly, the album (particularly tracks like the pedal steel led “Sailed Off to Sea”) is in no hurry, taking its time to reach its ultimate goal – which is, of course, to make you fall in love.
There’s a lot to fall in love with, and probably the first thing that will tug your heartstrings is Florence’s voice. He’s got a really nice range, and he knows when to used it without showing off or over-vocalizing or *cringe* working with a vocoder. Thankfully he is also capable of sharing the spotlight so that the group doesn’t seem like a backup band behind a star. There’s room for all six of them here, and each has got something awesome going on in the mix.
Even though the Annuals connection should be a seal of approval to people who haven’t heard Sunfold yet, don’t approach Toy Tugboats expecting to hear Be He Me, Part II, because not a song on here would fit into that group’s catalogue. Authentic guitar jazz is the group’s style of choice (“Gnosis,” for example, is stunning), but inexplicably/pleasantly they crash off into bluegrass (“Shapeshiftin’”), experimental electronic (“Gorgee de Rubis”), and the type of jangly/pretty indie rock that Joan of Arc has been trying to perfect for years. There’s no dull moment to be found; Sunfold take on every genre with the same amount of confidence and energy.
You really can’t go wrong checking out Sunfold if you’re interested in any of the genres listed above or just interested in indie musicians who think outside of the box. Within the next few years, I can see this collective coming into some huge cult praise and reputation in reflection of their heaps of hard work that paid off. Plus, I heard a rumor that they were on a mission to play Frisbee in every one of the 50 United States, so that in itself should knock this album up a few percentage points.
Silverchair’s Diorama, Annuals, Mr. Bungle’s California (but less spazzed out)
myspace.com/sunfold (http://www.myspace.com/sunfold)
Record Label: Tertpsikhore Records
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Talk about commitment to one’s field of work: this Kenny Florence character balances his spare time between the endlessly interesting indie-pop rockers Annuals and this, the alternate universe version of the exact same people. While Sunfold’s identity is identical physically, the groups are worlds apart musically; this outlet finds the guys exploring jazzier sounds, a less trippy but equally sunny approach. Both groups play shows regularly and have recorded records concurrently.
Oh, did I forget to mention dude owns a record label and a music theory school and is writing a book on theory? So then logically, you’d expect the music on Toy Tugboats to sound cluttered or forced – there’s no way there could be that much stuff going on in somebody’s brain who wasn’t Mike Patton. But amazingly, the album (particularly tracks like the pedal steel led “Sailed Off to Sea”) is in no hurry, taking its time to reach its ultimate goal – which is, of course, to make you fall in love.
There’s a lot to fall in love with, and probably the first thing that will tug your heartstrings is Florence’s voice. He’s got a really nice range, and he knows when to used it without showing off or over-vocalizing or *cringe* working with a vocoder. Thankfully he is also capable of sharing the spotlight so that the group doesn’t seem like a backup band behind a star. There’s room for all six of them here, and each has got something awesome going on in the mix.
Even though the Annuals connection should be a seal of approval to people who haven’t heard Sunfold yet, don’t approach Toy Tugboats expecting to hear Be He Me, Part II, because not a song on here would fit into that group’s catalogue. Authentic guitar jazz is the group’s style of choice (“Gnosis,” for example, is stunning), but inexplicably/pleasantly they crash off into bluegrass (“Shapeshiftin’”), experimental electronic (“Gorgee de Rubis”), and the type of jangly/pretty indie rock that Joan of Arc has been trying to perfect for years. There’s no dull moment to be found; Sunfold take on every genre with the same amount of confidence and energy.
You really can’t go wrong checking out Sunfold if you’re interested in any of the genres listed above or just interested in indie musicians who think outside of the box. Within the next few years, I can see this collective coming into some huge cult praise and reputation in reflection of their heaps of hard work that paid off. Plus, I heard a rumor that they were on a mission to play Frisbee in every one of the 50 United States, so that in itself should knock this album up a few percentage points.
Silverchair’s Diorama, Annuals, Mr. Bungle’s California (but less spazzed out)
myspace.com/sunfold (http://www.myspace.com/sunfold)