Model/Actriz - Swan Songs

Pulling from IDM and punk rock, Model/Actriz certianly have a unique sound to themselves. Possibly the most surprising part of their sonic identity is the refrain they exert in every song. Many artists in this space go for a maximalist vibe, but this group seems to aim for a busy yet refined approach. The timbre of every instrument is simultaneously breaming with life and drowning in reverb and delay.

Like many touring artists, dropping songs during the middle of their tour is a great way to keep momentum going after fans see the show and increase awareness of not only the tour, but the band itself. Swan Songs fulfills this unofficial obligation in a way that almost seems like a much more envisioned and fleshed out release than many 'on-tour' releases.

While being a little softer than many of their other songs, 'Thank You By Dido' and 'Majesty' are some great singer-songwriter meets baroque chamber pop tracks that really expand the landscape of this group's works. 'Thank You By Dido' refrains entirely from any sort of drums, on a first listen-through, expecting them to come in at any moment actually invokes a great deal of suspense and tension.

In contrast, 'Glassman' comes through the gate swinging, or at least in comparison to the other two. There is still a great deal of atmpshperic quiet found throughout. The stuttering fade-in of the strings as the only melodic instruments for the whole first minute creates an amount of tension that is held throughout the EP. This acoustic house is very representative of the band's other great works. The imposed contrast of a house beat and track layout but with real non-virtual instruments and no chopped old samples is a refreshing take on the genre.

If you enjoy bands like LCD Soundsystem, The Dare, Water From Your Eyes, Horsegirl, Snooper, Nourished by Time, or Mandy Indiana, then Model/Actriz may peak your interest. As mentioned, they are currently on tour so go out and experience them for yourself if you like what you hear!

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