Listening to tons of music it is usually two groups of artists that draw your attention - those that sound incredibly good and those that sound so awful to your ears, that you have to turn them off immediately. But they did draw your attention, didn’t they?
Everybody else seems to cling somewhere in the middle with some of their material being pleasant enough to listen to, some not so. On the other hand, there is quite of them that come up with pleasant music, which is pleasant enough so you don’t turn it off, but like Teflon pans, nothing much sticks in your mind after the record is over.
And this brings us to the Australian band Co-Pilgrim. It seems that their brand of indie pop has passed by so unnoticed that some reviewers of their latest effort, Moon Lagoon, weren’t so sure whether it is their fourth or fifth album (actually, according to the band’s website, five is the right number).
As the introductory “Turn It Around” starts, you have to make a decision - is their brand of indie pop, somewhere between the Eighties power pop act Tommy Keene, and Nineties faves The Shins something you would like to listen to. Since I am, it was something that I would let play on, no matter what.
Next few tunes do give you that middle of the road feeling - it is all “nice”, the vocals, the instrumental backing, but nothing that really tickles your fancy to really pay attention.
Then suddenly, right in the middle of the album with its title track, you get that great pop tune itch, like with New Zealand’s The Bats. From there on, almost to the end, it turns into a very interesting musical ride.
“Thank My Stars” the ballad that follows with its tasteful string arrangement is to other standout track on the album. While “I'm Not A Wallflower, I'm The Wall” and “Digging Holes In The Whites Of Your Eyes” not only have strong melodies but make you notice the lyrics, which do show quite a deft touch. The “Closer “Wouldn’t You Like To Dance?” while it has a nice reggae-ish rhythm and horn arrangement doesn’t quite match the couch of songs that precede it.
So, Co-pilgrim obviously has it in them to lift themselves from the middle ground and might get there yet. Moon Lagoon is a good indicator that it could be done.
