Today’s indie music is somewhat dichotomous: on one side are the simplistic, folksy, vocally-driven bands, and on the other there are chillwave electronic maestros. But on his 2010 debut Causer of This, Toro Y Moi (real name Chazwick Bundick) managed to slip between the cracks, landing in an altogether undefined genre with a combination of catchy melodic vocals and trippy electronic samples. On his second album, Underneath the Pine, Toro Y Moi has shifted significantly toward the atmospheric, electronic scene. But while the first album’s pop tendencies have faded, Underneath the Pine brings fresh appeal to its sub-genre, substituting its contemporaries’ sheen with greater character.
Underneath the Pine is an unprecedented clash between ‘70s movie soundtracks and spacey disco—Toro Y Moi’s two primary inspirations for the album. The funky, upbeat tracks, notably “New Beat” and “Still Sound,” hearken back the most to his previous work. It features the same danceable bass lines but replaces the electronic samples with keyboards and synths that would be at home on the soundtrack to Starsky and Hutch or Deep Throat. On the other hand, tracks like “Good Hold” and “Light Black” place the instruments in center focus, recreating the sound of a vintage film’s score over poppy vocals.
This seemingly incongruous combination is precisely why Underneath the Pine prevails. By prioritizing the development of a new style of sound, Toro Y Moi has created an album that is bound together seamlessly, with very few weak spots. Unfortunately, this album is a little too seamless—it lacks the big, standout tracks that most albums require to turn into hits. Although enjoyable in one sitting, the individual songs are somewhat lackluster.
Because of its new, less accessible sound, Underneath the Pine has little potential to fully reinvigorate the appeal that Toro Y Moi gained in 2010. But the album’s creative foundation brings an undeniably funky vibe that will not leave existing fans entirely dissatisfied. As for newcomers, a listen to the first album might prove much more enjoyable. As gratifying as it is, the lack of standout sonds and its relative uniformity make Underneath the Pine an album with a dull surface but an inspired backbone.
Voice’s Choices: “New Beat,” “Still Sound,” “Go With You”
