WIM

iTunes Review

Sydney’s WIM plays glacial indie rock that resonates with a life-after-Animal Collective consciousness and nods to the innovative song architecture of Radiohead’s OK Computer. Singer Martin Soloman even croons with a purling inflection not unlike Thom Yorke’s, most noticeably on the fetching standout “See You Hurry,” where shadowy choirs of backing-vocal harmonies accompany him. The band pumps some helium into the buoyant “Something for You,” which drastically shifts gears into strolling, sing-along guitar pop. It’s as if the group carefully structured a textbook baroque pop song and then took a High Llamas approach to stripping away all the exquisite trappings (save for subtle strings and a sprawling chorus of accompanying singers). “America” grafts intelligently crafted Harry Nilsson–style piano pop onto an endearingly maudlin Morrissey-esque vocal performance. The symphonic layering of “John” is slightly reminiscent of moments on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 album Illinois, but the finesse in guitar playing and the cabaret-flavored accordion and vocals are pure WIM. The handsomely arranged “Over the Mountains” closes with elegant aplomb.