Here We Go Magic - Pigeons (2010)

This was released quite soon after their self-titled debut which was a very pretty psychedelic-pop album. It had a sunny, cheerful feel to it, while keeping the sound relatively fresh and interesting throughout. 15 months later, they’ll have released a second album, and it’s immediately clear they wanted to accentuate their pop sensibilities. They have done a fine job, writing songs that are genuinely catchy and tuneful, but not sacrificing that cheery psychedelic glaze that really defines the band. This new album is more immediately accessible than their debut. Their aesthetic is beautiful, and here they apply it to strong pop songwriting. The vocals tend to be in an almost-falsetto style, but aren’t so high in the mix as to dominate the songs. Instead, the textures created by the instruments is the real attraction. Some tracks, like “Hibernation” and “Old World United” are built around bouncy bass lines, while others use guitars and synths to create the mood. There are some slower tracks, like “Father Figure” (which is mislabeled in the mp3s posted) and “Land of Feeling,” which work just as well as the upbeat ones. With songs that are more immediately gripping than on their debut, I expect this album to stand out a bit more in the long run, but as it is, they have written two very strong albums in less than two years.

link in comments