Renfro

For their debut album, Mathematics, newcomers Tim Branney and Atom-James Draper of UK-based Renfro had visions of creating unlikely ties between experimental electronic music and vocal harmonies via "dream pop” songwriting. They started simply with myriad sounds, which eventually became the root of the album. Recordings of elephant seals mingle amongst a sea of experimental sounds, including burning plastic, scores of wild animals, NASA feeds from deep space and a generous helping of static and distortion. In theory, it seems like a haphazard mix of unlikely noise. In practice however, the surprisingly serene sounds work beautifully, revealing an album of exceptional complexity based on simplistic elements. Mathematics pulls emotion to the forefront, often inducing an array of feelings in the span of one song. Add melancholic lyrics and the soft, urgent utterings of Branney and you have a disc that’s both innovative and distinct enough to separate Renfro from the multitude of experimental electro acts flooding the scene. Seems melding vocal harmonies and experimental sounds is possible, and in this case, more than encouraged.