The sole release from the experimental collective Family Dynamics gets the long-awaited vinyl treatment, and it s an exquisite, impossible-to-classify gem.
Field Guides Ginkgo derives from an organic, indie-folk space that encourages a stream of consciousness and melodic lines seemingly plucked out of thin air.
14 May 2021
The Second Bodybegins like an album that’s in no hurry to win you over. They know they’ll get there eventually. For an album so full of beautifully intertwined musicianship and bright, complex pop hooks, it’s interesting that they begin the album with an ethereal, spacey instrumental. “Herons” is a shimmering overture filled with sustained bits of feedback, lazy trumpet notes, heavily reverberating guitar strumming – it almost sounds like the band are warming up their gear and tuning up, but it’s too musical, too calculated for that.
In fact, the gentle teasing continues briefly into the next song, “Pasted”, before the band crashes into a warm, engaging dream-pop vibe. Although Keen Dreams are a trio – James Weber Jr. on guitar and vocals, Shana Applewhite on bass and vocals, and Eric Martinez on drums – they’re ably assisted by a small army on this stunning debut. Produced by Shannon Fields (Leverage Models, Stars Like Fleas) on his home turf of
Keen Dreams Conjure Up Emotionally Charged Dream-pop on “Immediate Tonight” (premiere)
The latest single from Keen Dreams’ upcoming debut album is a plea for fleeting moments of peace and beauty, accompanied by an oddly nostalgic music video.
Listening to the music of Keen Dreams can sound a bit like time travel. The band – consisting of James Weber, Jr. on vocals and guitar, Shana Applewhite on bass, and Eric Martinez on drums, also featuring a bevy of guest musicians – creates a type of hazy dream-pop that’s reminiscent of Talk Talk or the Jesus and Mary Chain, or even contemporary practitioners like Destroyer. In advance of their debut album,