SURFER BLOOD - Astro Coast

Taking equal measures of 90's slacker acts such as Pavement and Weezer, the warped surf guitar of the Pixies and vocals reminiscent of James Mercer of The Shins, Florida's Surfer Blood have released an album which has made them my favourite discovery of 2010.
Surfer Blood recorded their debut album, Astro Coast, in the dorm room of the University of Florida using a cheap ProTools rig giving the album a lo-fi production value, but has plenty of melodic hooks soaked in reverb. "Swim" has a great anthemic chorus coupled with a strong power-chord hook. "Floating Vibes" with its reverb laden chords and unexpected strings is almost the sound of summer. Imagine if The Shins had lived closer to a surf beach reminiscent of that seen in the OC.
But while the music has the feel of said surf beach, at times the lyrics seem much more located in a landlocked suburb. Vocalist John Paul Pitts sings of confusion over issues such as relationships, friendships and the future in tracks such as "Twin Peaks" and closing track "Catholic Pagans", which begins with the couplet "never could be still for long/ and I could never hold a job/ coupled with a weakness for cocaine and liquor/ not much you can do for love".
But even lyrics such as these can not overshadow the summertime feel of this catchy, "classic indie pop" album. Ironically though it was dropped in North America in their winter and they will more than likely tour Australia for Splendour in the Grass in July.

Key Tracks: "Floating Vibes", "Swim", "Twin Peaks"
4.5/5

DELPHIC - Acolyte

As much as previous posts on Youth Against Fascism would lead one to believe I'm over the overproduced electro-pop movement which seems to dominate the Triple J playlists at present, I have always felt my music tastes are eclectic and so to prove this, will review the debut album by the next big thing from Manchester, Delphic.
It's hard to review this album without mentioning the heavy influence of fellow Mancunians, New Order. But, any band from that city that fuse rock and dance elements will inevitably receive such comparisons. Thankfully enough nuances can be found on Acolyte to not refer to Delphic as derivative. A distinct lack of any lovely melodies, such as that in "Bizarre Love Triangle" is one.
The album does, however, contain many highlights; the endorphin rush of "Doubt", the dynamic build up of "This Momentary" from gentle whisper to tribal drums, the anxious energy of "Red Lights", the urgent euphoria of "Halcyon" which gives a nod to rave pioneers Orbital, and the shimmering synths of "Counterpoint". Infact Acolyte gives one the feeling of a great night under the influence of MDMA, without a comedown the following day.
Overall Delphic have released, in Acolyte, an urgent, euphoric LP which will surely keep both the tight-jeaned hipsters and the fluoro kids happy.

Key Tracks: "Doubt", "Red Lights", "Counterpoint"
3.5/5

SPOON - Transference

After the mixed instrumentation of 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and the inconsistent yet polished Gimme Fiction, Austin, TX quartet Spoon have released their best album since 2002's Kill the Moonlight.
Transference with its more minimalistic, rawer approach is refreshing in today's over produced musical environment. Spoon have produced Transference themselves, allowing many of the songs to have the feel of a demo. Lead single, "Got Nuffin", released six months prior to Transference being dropped, hinted at the stripped-back nature of the album.
Not only does the music seem rawer but the songwriting appears more willing to show emotional insecurity than the previous two albums. Transference is a Freudian term used to describe when a patient develops a romantic attachment to their analyst, mistaking the intimacy of that relationship for actual love. "The Mystery Zone" is the greatest example of this with its sense of longing to find real love but having no idea about what it is or where to find it. "Written in Reverse", with its bashed keys and snarled, bitter vocals about the dying stages of a relationship, is the fiercest Spoon has sounded since "Jonathan Fisk" off the aforementioned Kill the Moonlight. Some, however, may feel that the music lacks balls, but balls aren't just about loud guitar riffs, it can mean having the balls to expose your vulnerable neurosis.
Some who have enjoyed the production and pop-sensibilities of the past few albums may be disappointed, believing only "pretentious art-house wankers" will enjoy this album. Perhaps I am just that, for I feel that while Transference isn't Spoon's best album, it's pretty damn close.

Key Tracks: "Is Love Forever", "The Mystery Zone", "Written in Reverse"
4/5