aaamusic | On 06, Feb 2011

There is a small smattering of euphoria in Two Spot Gobi’s material. In fact, “small” is an understatement. Blending shining-eyed stadium attitudes with dance frills and easy jazz, the instantly accessible indie pop on their five-track release ‘The Sun Will Rise’ is perfectly suited to the title, being a honeyed and smoothly-crafted piece of optimism.

Gentle yet evocative opener ‘Guiding Star’ starts with atmospheric cello/guitar buildup that shimmers with beautiful melodies beneath some cliché vocal lines made palatable and even enjoyable by a real sense of passion and conviction. The track’s orchestral moments fade into a more typical yet no less bright stadium indie-dance track, with jangling guitar hooks and catchy, romanticised lyrics, backed by a dance stomp rhythm to get the crowd going. ‘I Remember’ is of the hop-skip sunshine indie pop school that easily gets grating, yet the execution sidesteps the manufacture and cynicism that many similar artists fall into. Handclaps and jangling guitars spangle over energetic clattering and cymbals in the percussion, and the vocals are bright, warm and organically tuneful, matching the smooth bass tones. The melody and rhythm are heard in every other chart tune, but the jazzy trumpet solo and heart is something rather special. And the sugar-lemon comedown of ‘You Make It Easy’ is a great example of how some artists can make even heartbreak feel like a work of beauty. The guitar and soft bass embrace the brassy singalong optimistic chorus to create a track that rightfully should be a summer hit release.

A smear of chillout jazz can be found in the mood of ‘Tomorrow’. The slow tempo and dreamy atmospherics, the harmonised male vocals (with guest Jason Mraz providing smooth backing) and the sound of fingers on acoustic frets add a sense of intimacy, while the cello brings to the fore the humanising emotional variation that is what prevents this band from being a one-dimensional chart act.

There is perhaps a lack of real originality in Two Spot Gobi’s sound, as they comfortably bridge the gap between Bombay Bicycle Club and easy jazz pop that comes through the family radio on a lazy June morning in a soap advert. However, that said, what is played is played with a real sense of heart and soul, and even February-chilled cynics will find themselves with the teasing hints of contentment as they hear the tracks that may yet prove to make a euphoric festival crowd in the very near future.

Author: Katie H-Halinski