I’ll just start this one off by saying all of the things you said, coastal club’s latest release, is one of the most deliciously produced albums to come out in the context of the current renaissance happening within the larger Cincy scene.
Lush and airy in equal measure, this collection of tracks elicits some immediate and visceral responses - lots of smiles, plenty of dancing in the kitchen (you know what I’m talking about, cooks of the house), impassioned singalongs. You’ll hear some Vampire Weekend, maybe some, I don’t know, Cobra Starship? A little Young The Giant, a smidge of Miniature Tigers? all of the things you said is sort of all those and none of them at all.
This particular indie pop trio gets things rolling immediately, sunshine radiating from the speakers. “cigarettes” is an instant sonic pick-me-up, a windows down drive through a small town or hanging at the beach with your besties, maybe walking through a bustling outdoor market with your sweetheart.
“be like me” starts quietly, almost melancholy, then breaks into some of the album's most exciting musical moments. The chorus is massive, and feels like it would be an absolutely wild moment in a live setting. The pace slows, the vibe mellows, and “are you there?” makes its way into the mix, a little sultry, before going big to close out the track. This is a band who seem to be working quite hard at mastering a sense of timing and control over their tracks and how they’re presented, and that’s legitimately exciting.
The slower pace continues with “existential” and “too close,” but the vibes of what the album is offering as a whole stay locked in. They’re quieter, sure, but still dancey, fun, just quirky enough to keep things from grinding to a halt. While “existential” leans into reverb and synth, “too close” feels almost stripped down compared to most of the album - vocals front and center, easy going guitar and syncopated, quietly rhythmic drum and bass. The lead into “conversation,” which starts out as an ode to old school lounge music shifts into one of the most fun tracks of the album, giving big “That Thing You Do” vibes and again shining a bright light on the spectacular production.
Album closer “lost in my head” is a bit more ruminative - it builds quietly over it’s first three minutes, finally settling into a gentle swirl of keys and vocals, synths and everything else. Not quite chaotic, it teeters on the edge, but manages to bring the album to an end in a wonderful and fitting way.
From start to finish, these are seven tracks that are not just worth your time, but worth spending time with. Layered and adventurous, coastal club have married dynamic and intricate production with impeccable indie pop songwriting and put together a legitimately great record.
If you’re in the midwest, you can catch them live on tour with Gable Price & Friends. Cincy friends, worry not. You have two more chances to see them - October 30 at The Southgate House Revival supporting Daphne Eckman and Diet Lemon, then on December 28 at the Holiday Hangover supporting The Wonderlands.
For now, pick up their latest, all the things you said, on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify or however you listen to music. Just give it a listen - you’ll be real glad you did.
