Weekly mp3 #94: Toro Y Moi - Blessa

Download this absurdly sunny tune (and 3 others if you like) from RCRDLBL.

Backing vox of the drawn-out "Ahhhhh" variety start the track, half-suggesting a contented sigh as much as 60s pop. A loud burst of slide guitar drops in seemingly out of nowhere, bends completely out of shape in a way I can't even begin to do justice to, and then surges up again in a canyon-size wash of reverb. Turns out that's just the intro, and the track switches direction with a bouncy backbeat and bassline, the backing vox laying out some chords. The guy starts singing, and it's hard to say whether he's harking back to Brian Wilson or just been listening to Panda Bear or Atlas Sound doing the same. From here it's basically just a really mellow little pop song. Somewhere towards the end, everything breaks down to a shambling guitar lick and then the song gives up the ghost.

Although this is a full song, the overall feel reminds me quite a lot of the El Guincho mix of Kuroma I wrote about 40 weeks back...

Chaz Bundick is a wild enough name, so not sure why the guy goes by Toro Y Moi for his music. I was not exactly shocked to hear he's from Southern Carolina. Am really hoping the album is as good as the best of the MP3s I've heard.