By Raymond Simon
The music on this debut record by Santa Barbara, CA's Gardens & Villa is pop, but an odd, somewhat downbeat pop. Frequent references to nature, generally a positive thing, are muted by the deliberately mechanical drumming, which appears on many tracks. The quintet also deploys synthesizers counter-intuitively. Rather than calling listeners to the dance floor, these burbles and whines give the impression that a tune-up is in order.
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's evidence that the band is thinking hard about California, wondering if it really is all that great. "This is how God made us to live, on California the cruise ship," Chris Lynch sings on "Cruise Ship." Throughout, the singer's voice is sweet and ethereal, adding another layer to the band's pop psychedelics. Occasionally, there's a touch of flute, as on "Orange Blossom," a frankly sexual song that includes these lines: "Think of me like a swarm of bees buzzing around your knees./To pollinate means ecstasy." "Carrizo Plain" is the album's highlight. The song, about two lovers out for a day in a beautiful rural area of central California, is sweet and tender. No synths, just some whistling, a little acoustic guitar, and a good topic.
Rating: Listenable
