If you are a sucker for cutesy, Apple-product-commercial music, then Electric Hawaii, the new album from indie-pop outfit Opossom, will fit right into your oversized Beats headphones. Slightly fuzzy vocals, hoppy bass-lines, catchy choruses, dreamy guitars, and a paint-can full of synth give Opossom a classically hip New York City sound—ironic, given that they hail from New Zealand. Though Opossom is the brainchild of Kody Nielson, formally of Mint Chicks, Electric Hawaii boasts a signature, perfected feel that sounds more like the amalgamation of several artistic minds.
“Blue Meanies,” the album’s first single, starts out much like a 1960s French yé-yé track (think duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, BATMAN!). It immediately recalls middle school memories of Peter Bjorn, holding on to that nostalgic sound even when the vocals kick in. The up-tempo style of this track is mirrored throughout the rest of the album, though it manifests itself in varied rhythms and instrumentation.
While album-opener “Girl,” retains the New York-underground sound, it taps into the recent lo-fi beachy style reinvigorated by bands like Best Coast and Smith Westerns and capitalizes on high-pitched Shins-style vocals.
The guitar-filled track “Cola Elixir” continues in this style. Laid out lyrically much like an Animal Collective song, it begins out with a chant and soon breaks into a clever set of lyrics, “I broke your teacup in jealousy/ Pick up the pieces and kill me/ It’s hard to make up your mind/ It interferes with my mind,” that align with a wailing guitar riff. Though Opossom is largely vocal-based, “Cola Elixir” finishes up with a fast-paced drum and synth section that almost feels like an extended White Stripes solo. Opossom’s musical influences are obvious in their album, and yet they managed to retain a style all their own.
Voice’s Choice: “Blue Meanies”
