California’s A.M. VIBE shivers in the embrace of a dual love. On the one hand, bandleader LISAH NICHOLSON and her crew float and jangle with the best of bands like the SUNDAYS. On the other hand, they fry amps and daintily scorch the landscape like SLOWDIVE at its shoegaziest. I’ll admit I prefer the latter approach – “Don’t Wanna Stay” and “Hold On” sit well with the work of their dreampop idols. Even the more twee songs work, though, as Nicholson avoids the sing-song vocal style of her forebears for more straightforward readings of tunes like “Countdown” and “V.” The pretty folk rock of “Black Dogs” and the gorgeous balladry of “The Sea Song” vary the tone somewhat, though they’re certainly in keeping with the rest of the record. The strength of Nicholson’s songs makes any stylistic dithering irrelevant in any case. A lovely record.
http://www.amvibe.com
http://www.plantingseedsrecords.com
