Back in 2001 when Oakland’s Call and Response debuted their eponymous album, the quintet garnered many comparisons to the Mamas & The Papas — but listen to their approach at hitting those lilting vocal harmonies sung over simple baroque-pop played through vintage instruments and it’s evident that the band had more in common with sunshine-pop luminaries the Free Design. Lead singer Carrie Clough’s beautifully plaintive voice recalls a young Karen Carpenter at times, especially when contrasted against the bubbly electro-pop of “Rollerskate” and the robo-funk of “Lightbulb.” On the instantly danceable “All Night Long” bass player Terri Loewenthal locks into unpredictable time-signatures with drummer Jordan Dalrymple while guitar player Dan Judd lets loose some tastefully toned guitar melodies. Analogue keyboard fetishes flourish, especially on the “Mr. Tambourine Man”-derived “Colors” where it sounds like a Moog and Wurlitzer are going head-to-head from inside a children’s bouncy castle. The twangy “California Floating In Space” is punctuated by Japancakes’ pedal-steel player John Neff.
More By Call and Response
- 2004
- 2004
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- The Shins
- Tegan and Sara
- Regina Spektor
- Crooked Fingers
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