Islandeer : Daytona
With a slew of singles last year, upstart duo Islandeer have begun establishing themselves wielding a buttery-smooth indie rock sound. Fashioned after the usual NME heroes – The Strokes and Bombay Bicycle Club for starters - they colour their songs with an easy-going energy, informed by their love for light psychedelia. Their shows have largely been able to capture that, with the duo’s warm synergy largely creating pleasant, bopping affairs. However, yet despite being able to capture that spark live, their previous singles still sounded like works in progress, with them sometimes sounding too stilted or overproduced, hindering its wonderful melodic sensibilities.
On Daytona, however, Islandeer seems to have found the right gears. Lushly produced, the single is a life-affirming jolt in the arm, and proves to be their strongest release by far. A filtered chord invite the listeners into their world on a 4-count, and as the green lights flash, the song blossoms into crisp focus, filling up the frequencies with its shining vocal harmonies and riffs. The drums are crisp, and snap the guitars into place perfectly, as vocalist Michael Garcia’s vocals tell a story of imagined, unrealized romances trapped in mundanity ("So whatchu think about the baby crib?/We gotta get out now/Sir walk this way you’ll work in cubicle/ Get me out now").
Islandeer's sonic confectionery only helps to bolster their tale, with its guitar tone especially irresistible – striking the right balance between clarity and tasteful fuzz. Much like the sweet tale they try to tell, the wonderfully balanced mix helps the band glide through their verses effortlessly, making the song a breezy listen that uplifts in no time.
Despite the gorgeous harmonies, the vocals still remain a weakness at certain points. Garcia’s relaxed croons help bring across the ideal, imagined warmth that Daytona aims to radiate – at times, however, it still feels slightly devoid in attitude or character, which could help the band elevate their sound beyond their peers in an admittedly saturated genre. In particular, the backup vocals seem forced – feeling almost tacked-on at parts in the mix, it serves more as a distraction than an addition, occasionally disrupting the sincere energy that the track largely sustains into mildly tacky territory. Nevertheless, Daytona’s glistening production and effortless progressions create a convincingly bold slice of pastel indie pop for the duo, topped with the soul of gentle romantics – à la Kings of Convenience.
On the large part, Daytona sounds like Islandeer’s victory lap. If this is indicative of their upcoming album, Daytona will be the start line for a race worthy to watch for. Speaking of finishing lines, there’s one thing to be sure. The solos are delicious – bleed your fuzzy Valensi hearts out, Islandeer, because this race needs more of that. Daytona 500/500, here’s hoping.