Homeshake

Mac DeMarco's recent success has worked out well for his bandmates — longtime collaborator Alex Calder has landed a solo record deal with Captured Tracks, while live guitarist Peter Sagar has emerged as Homeshake. DeMarco's influence has rubbed off on Sagar, as his slippery arpeggios and laid-back pop grooves are strongly reminiscent of last year's 2. This is a good thing, since the nine tunes on The Homeshake Tape are appealingly hazy and the faintly sci-fi-themed between-song skits add to the druggy atmosphere. The guitarist's only shortcoming is his voice; he doesn't quite have the pitch or power to carry his melodies. However, this doesn't stop "Don't Try" from being a wonderful slice of Slanted & Enchanted-style weirdness. Sagar isn't likely to outshine his more famous bandmate anytime soon, but this cassette is nevertheless a welcome curio.