Sun Airway
Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
Dead Oceans Records

Another band from the very interesting Dead Oceans label (which is run side by side with the evenly cool sister-labels Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian); a label housing acts like Bowerbirds, Califone, Frog Eyes, Bishop Allen, Evangelicals, The Explorers Club, The Luyas, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Nurses, Phosphorescent, The Tallest Man on Earth and White Hinterland.

Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier is the debut album from the Philadelphia-based duo (Jon Barthmus and Patrick Marceill) presenting snapping, crackling electronic, dreamy psych-pop music, yes, maybe sounding like an exploding crystal chandelier. MGMT, Electric President, Phoenix, Animal Collective and the Flaming Lips could be used as reference points. The album has been described as "the missing soundtrack to the next Sofia Coppola Film", which is quite a fitting description. This album is highly enjoyable and indeed a charming listen. It's bubbling with positivity, and even though it lacks something to reach to the top all the way, it's for sure a solid debut, with boyish falsetto vocals and all. Pop music reaching for the sky, floating on sunny airwaves.

Copyright © 2011 Håvard Oppøyen