Bodies Of Water - A Certain Feeling

There's a hugeness to Bodies of Water's second album, A Certain Feeling, that I find irresistible. I've always been fascinated by lavish production; layered music with rich instrumentation - and this has it cracked completely, overflowing with vibrancy and a sense of wonder. If you liked early Polyphonic Spree, Arcade Fire or the majesty of Sufjan Steven's pomp you should be all over this release.

The album's eclecticism is certainly 21st Century, where seemingly anything goes, with genres flickering between (to name but a few) quick-step tropicalia bursts of energy, show-like choruses, Spaghetti Western soundtracks, loose percussive funk, and a real penchant for (my personal favourite) doom-laden, VU-ish stoner chugs but there's none of the slightly knowing, hipsterish undercurrent you sometimes get with such releases - the songs flow and ebb together, and there feels as if there's a deep pulse that goes through the entire record, keeping it all hanging together as styles change and instruments burst through. No two songs really sound alike, but there's a definite vibe throughout that sounds completely unique to the band.

Think anthemic pop, with a psychedelic/krautrock/progressive sensibility - it's everywhere but knows exactly where it's going (I really need to start listening to more sensible music that's easier to describe!)

Download: Bodies of Water - Under the Pines (MP3)

All over an urgent rhythm, Under The Pines has extended instrumental grooves, shimmering feedback, loose solos and doomy bass whilst all being tied up with a catchy chorus. It's hard to pick a sample track, due to the variance, but this'll put you on the right path.

Buy from Secretly Canadian and Emusic.

The band are also on tour in the UK in October, I have no idea how they'll pull off these songs live, but would love to see them try (and succeed I'm sure):

October 2 London, Concrete And Glass
October 3 Glasgow, Captains Rest
October 4 Middlesbrough, Westgarth Social Club
October 5 Belfast, Speakeasy
October 6 Dublin, Whelans
October 7 Galway, Roisin Dubh
October 11 London, Forum w/Calexico
October 13 Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
October 14 London, Cargo

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