Dance-pop duo Sunglasses have an atmospheric, cinematic sound, and its for good reason: the band evolved from a collaboration between 8000 bam bam (Samuel Cooper) and Baby Seal (Brady Keehn) while Cooper was working on his senior thesis film project at school in Savannah, Georgia. The duo’s latest effort is Swim/Namesake, a small yet impressive collection that will be on heavy rotation during the summer months.
“Swim,” the EP’s first single, was premiered back in May, which itself came two years after Sunglasses’ debut EP. Clocking in at seven minutes, “Swim” has the length of an anthem, but maintains a warm, intimate feel. Filled with melodic and strange sounds (are those jingle bells I hear?) and peachy, beachy vintage rock influence, “Swim” is a joyous, flowing ride. It’s sure to be an essential song of summer.
“Namesake” takes a different approach from “Swim.” Opening with an elegant, sprawling piano, “Namesake” is transportive, with an alien feel. The instrumentals are top notch and diverse; one minute you’re grooving to a bouncing drum beat, and the next, you’re surprised by an unexpected shred of guitar.
Sunglasses’ trippy vibe, distorted sounds, and even dreamy, far-off vocals will surely recall another great band: Animal Collective. However, while the comparison is certainly flattering, the bands differ in their use of beats and the obvious penchant for mixing genres. Sunglasses are also a younger, fresher band, and with just one album under their belt, they are still developing their signature brand of cinematic sounds. But it’s definitely a promising start. - Audio Cred |
