ARTIST:
DISCOVERY


ALBUM:
LP


KEY TRACKS:
SWING TREE
OSAKA LOOP LINE
I WANNA BE YOUR BOYFRIEND


"Saltwater brine where you hung your crown, when you washed your eyes in last night's tea"

Wes Miles

Discovery is the collaboration of Vampire Weekend's producer/synth operator Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's lead singer Wes miles.  What's interesting is how these two individuals from similar sounding bands created an album that is completely out of left field.  Instead of pop/rock songs, Discovery's album is laden full of electronics, auto-tune, and collaborations with indie rock darlings.  


Lending their talents to Discovery's debut are Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and Angel Deradoorian of the Dirty Projectors.  Wes Miles also lends one of Ra Ra Riot's most popular tracks, Can You Tell to the album which makes it an interesting listen.  


To be honest, this album was more of a grower for me.  At first listen it was difficult to get past the auto tune and electronics.  I'm normal a fan of electronic music but at times this album sounds almost over produced.  


The primary example of this is Can You Discover?.  This cover of Ra Ra Riot's Can you Tell? completely slaughters the original as the ENTIRE track is auto tuned and backed by lousy R&B type beats.  It's definitely a tough listen.  Orange Shirt was another particularly tough one to hear, not because of the melody (which was actually quite nice) but because the odd lyrics:

Rostam Batmanglij

"You always sexy how you chew that straw

Especially when you wear Lacoste"

and:

"still you wont call me back

and every text that I get from you is so so serious

but im sittin at home sippin this miso"

and by far the worst offender:

"sleep on the train to Tokyo

Google yourself when you get home"

However, though the low notes are particularly low, there are some pretty great songs on here as well.  Discovery's ode to public transport in Japan, Osaka Loop Line, is exceptional.  And as someone who frequently rode the actual Osaka loop line in Japan, it was quite nostalgic to hear.  Here Discovery really captures the sounds of Japan.  And when I hear this track, I'm reminded of those humming trains and neon lights.  This is also where Rostam really lets loose on all the electronics he's got up his sleeve and creates an orchestra of glitchy harmonies. 

Another favorite is I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, featuring Dirty Projectors vocalist Angel Deradoorian.  Angel's voice sounds so great with these eccentric melodies that is sounds as if she was meant to be meshed in.  Her vocals are refreshing and add a quirky feel to the album as a whole.  

Lastly, my favorite on the album is the aptly named Swing Tree.  Ironically the beat in this track does in fact mimic the pendulum-like motion of a swing.  The lyrics are hazy in comparison to the crispness of the melodies and are an interesting, yet pleasing combination.       

Overall this album is more of a juxtaposition of the good and bad, hit and miss, yin and yang.  And at the conclusion you may be left with a bit of confusion as to what just happened...and while the weak tracks are forgettable, the decent tracks are memorable and stand strong.

LISTEN:  SWING TREE  |  OSAKA LOOP LINE  |  WANNA BE YOUR BOYFRIEND    

NEXT WEEK:  CUT/COPY  |  ZONOSCOPE