Listen if you like: Her Space Holiday, Stereolab, Atlas Sound, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Suicide, Mazzy Star, The Flaming Lips, Toro Y Moi, Beach House, Radiohead, The Stone Roses.
Musically speaking, we’re at a moment in time when the expression “there’s nothing new under the sun” is none more evident than in several current indie-rock acts. You can only reinterpret so many times before it becomes redundant. What’s interesting, however, is how artists are fusing the baselines of pop from various generations and genres into a cauldron of bubbly, strange brews that come out oddly refreshing. Enter Holobody.
Artists Felix Green and Sea Oleena, whose real names are Luke and Charlotte Loseth (they’re brother and sister), make warping, left-field bedroom indie pop under the moniker Holobody. But after a few listens it becomes apparent that they are complexly delving into a much broader spectrum of sounds. On Riverhood, the duo’s debut LP, they explore ambient moods in textured, lush layers of ethereal compositions rooted in both folk and electronica, very similar to Her Space Holiday. But they’re by no means tied to one particular genre. Playing with loops, shoegaze, chillwave, acoustic strumming, trip house, prog, dissonance, and even hip-hop, Holobody truly exemplifies the often-overused description of “genre bending,” exploring through their indie vehicle a world that is subtly brilliant. This is what modern independent music sounds like — a mash-up, if you will, of familiarity. Although the trick Holobody pulls is in turning the familiar just unfamiliar enough to make it sound new through the mix of base elements and various incantations of pop. The trippy atmosphere and dual vocal work gives Riverhood a cohesive edge as the band touches on generation-spanning sub-genres. And, if given the chance, many listeners who aren’t into the hipster-driven chill indie vibe will find some common ground here.
The whole album is a cruisy little adventure, great for hanging on the beach or taking a road trip. “Hurricane Season” is a personal favorite though, as Holobody plays with a well-known Slick Rick piano riff, a sparkling melody, and a chill back beat to create a fun hook alongside their talky hip-hop lyricism. “Riverbed” comes in a close second. - Eastern Surf |
