Those with their ear to the ground may already be familiar with Washington-based Grant Eadie, better known as Manatee Commune, whose enjoyable Thistle EP from earlier this year earned him plenty of goodwill leading up to this highly impressive debut full-length.
A lot of the press surrounding Eadie highlights the organic feel of his otherwise electronic productions, and with good reason. Whether it's through the vocal talent on hand, or the inclusion of various analog instruments, there's an inviting warmth to these tracks. This has much to do with Eadie's superb production, full of crisp beats and sparkling synths that never sound sterile, even when they're unadorned by poignant violins or bucolic field recordings. Indeed, there's a summery, laid-back vibe to this album that's very appealing, made for lazy afternoons on the dock or deck, drink in hand.
It's also a pop album, through and through. Vocalists Marina Price and Moorea Masa feature on almost half the album, for instance, lending it a satisfying cohesion and sense of identity. It moves along at an enjoyably brisk pace as well, with only two tracks pushing the four-minute mark. This knack for songcraft rounds out Eadie's abilities nicely, and marks him as one to watch.
(Bastard Jazz)A lot of the press surrounding Eadie highlights the organic feel of his otherwise electronic productions, and with good reason. Whether it's through the vocal talent on hand, or the inclusion of various analog instruments, there's an inviting warmth to these tracks. This has much to do with Eadie's superb production, full of crisp beats and sparkling synths that never sound sterile, even when they're unadorned by poignant violins or bucolic field recordings. Indeed, there's a summery, laid-back vibe to this album that's very appealing, made for lazy afternoons on the dock or deck, drink in hand.
It's also a pop album, through and through. Vocalists Marina Price and Moorea Masa feature on almost half the album, for instance, lending it a satisfying cohesion and sense of identity. It moves along at an enjoyably brisk pace as well, with only two tracks pushing the four-minute mark. This knack for songcraft rounds out Eadie's abilities nicely, and marks him as one to watch.