Windsurf

Discovered and signed by taste-making cosmic disco impresario Prins Thomas, San Francisco's Windsurf are the sum of two esteemed producers: Daniel Judd (Sorcerer) and Sam Grawe (Hatchback). That the duo go by the name Windsurf and have called their album Coastlines is no coincidence — Judd and Grawe are very into instilling the sense of a warm Californian breeze and the sound of the surf into their spin on Balearic, house, disco and soft pop, which Thomas describes as "Tangerine Dream's Edgar Froese meets Steely Dan." They definitely have a vibe that is irrefutably serene, blending Italo synth oscillations with both a live band and a programmed electronic feel, suggesting this is touching on the familiar while breaking new ground for them. While Windsurf can certainly swim, they can also sink with their indulgences, primarily when it comes to adding vocals. Though mostly an instrumental cruise, Coastlines does feature the odd vocal, which unlike the richness they pour into the instrumentation, comes off more like feeble attempts to fulfil their soft rock fantasy. It's too bad because when it's an uninterrupted instrumental journey this is one smooth cruise.