Christy & Emily

Although Christy & Emily share the same sweet, dreamy harmonization and pop sensibility of Au Revoir Simone, especially on tracks such as "Queen's Head" and "Golden Rings," their sophomore album is far from light and airy. Sounding earthier than synthetic (in contrast to the latter's signature Casio sound), the Brooklyn duo paint their melodies with sombre, disconcerting, experimental brushstrokes that force their weight on your emotions. Haunting string orchestrations rise from within eerie washes of vibraphone-laced phrasings and guitar reverb. In opener "Chicken Little," music and lyrics unite in mutual oddness with unexpected key changes and zany doomsday references to holes in the sky. Superstition's successful fusion of pop and psychedelic chamber folk owes its verve to Emily Manzo's classical piano training, guitarist Christy Edwards' indie punk background and, of course, the muses who have bestowed upon the girls more than their fair share of creative courage and inspiration.