Since forming out of the ashes of dance punk hopefuls Professor Murder and their subsequent offshoot, Restless People, Brooklyn, NY's Tanlines (Eric Emm and Jesse Cohen) have taken the leisurely route to releasing their debut album. Dropping debut single "New Flowers" in 2008 (the year they formed) and then the half-instrumental Settings EP two years later, Mixed Emotions arrives more than a year after its projected date. What began as a very loose, club-oriented production style has fluidly evolved into some deeply affecting, euphoric pop on Mixed Emotions. Written during a time of personal insecurity for the duo, Emm's lyrics are reflective yet relatable, shining bright, thanks to their commitment to fully fleshing out these songs beyond their ear for percussion. Confronting the uncertainty of adulthood in lead single "Brothers," they drench it in a warm, Balearic, mid-tempo throb, while the poignant, new wave-y "Not the Same" gives the other half of the album its emotional pull. By mixing emotions, Tanlines meet the fun quotient, throwing in the bubby "All of Me" and the Beach Boys-pinching "Lost Somewhere." Mixed by the legendary Jimmy Douglass (Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Gang of Four), Mixed Emotions is just the painstakingly crafted, mood-driven long-player we've been waiting for from this immensely talented duo.
Read an interview with Tanlines here.
(True Panther Sounds)Read an interview with Tanlines here.
