Sunny indie pop always catches the ear. There is something about clean, tight production and upbeat rhythms that automatically demands attention, even if just for a second. But that’s usually the problem, it’s ephemeral. Bands get so caught up in creating something ‘listenable’ that they disregard complexity for digestibility, and you generally get all you can out of a track after one listen. Slow Turismo don’t do this. They take all the elements of good pop – hooky vocals lines wrapped up in sunny guitars and bouncy rhythms – and throw them into a can and kick it down a hill. What is left is a dynamic blur of catchy pop, battered and bruised in an interesting way, where things are a little out of place and nothing feels quite right, but somehow, everything works.
Throwing in elements of alt-pop legends Alt-J and Arcade Firethe self-titled EP from Slow Turismo flourishes with dynamic instrumentation and hooky vocals.
Taking cues from alt-pop bands like Alt-J and Arcade Fire, Slow Turismo use a variety of instruments, textures and production techniques to make complex pop music. The math-rock inspired guitars are precise; rythmic and jangly, locking in with intricate drum patterns. Lead single I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up is a rolling pastiche of vocals hooks and subtle funk, veiled by a looming forest of creeping synths, percussion, harmonies and horns. Brothers Max and Sam Conway share vocal and guitar duties, locking together in perfect harmony – perhaps a little akin debt to Arcade Fire’s Butler brothers. There is an unmistakable influence in the baritone-tinged vocals lurking under the dynamic instrumentation.
Corners is spacious and eerie, showcasing the vocal range of Slow Turismo. After opening with delayed guitar, softly thudding drums and a sweet falsetto, the song soon descends into an dark, electronic-tinged soundscape with synthesizers and programmed drums circling each other as cymbals and howling vocals creep in and out. Release follows a similar path, with soft, high vocals being complimented by guitars plucked in the upper registers.
Slow Turismo are very much a vocal band, utilising the voice not only as a storytelling tool, but much like an instrument, addling an extra layer of melody on top of the sporadic instrumentation. The vocals are always super dynamic, ducking from falsetto to that Arcade Fire-esque baritone with ooo’s and aah’s scattered amongst the mix. Funk Guy is a looming finale, with droning synths giving away to a dark-funk breakdown with a definite Smiths influence. It once again falls into a bed of dark synthsizers before peaking in a melee of funk guitars, bouncing snares and howling vocals, showcasing what Slow Turismo do best: keeping you on your toes.
