We've all been through this experience . You're raving about your new favourite band to a friend, fervently reeling off their discography and upcoming tour dates when they pop that all-important question: "What do they sound like?" Suddenly you're stumped and start mumbling new-found adjectives like "ambient" and "hazy", drawing faint comparisons with other bands that they are "sort of, like, ish but not really". Twin Sister are one of the bands that induce this confusion...in the best way possible.
Originally hailing from Long Island in the US of A, this dreamy 5 piece make their own brand of indie pop from a diverse amalgamation of sugar-sweet melodies, eerie, discordant guitars and occasionally haunting vocals. Think Zola Jesus, Washed Out and Summer Camp all rolled into one. The band's defiance of genre is exactly what keeps their sound so fresh despite them having recently relocated to Brooklyn; a district of New York awash with musicians, all seeking to be branded as unique. However, the move to this highly creative environment (hometown to bands such as LCD Soundsystem and The Drums, amongst others) has benefited the quintet massively - "[Brooklyn's] great because there's hundreds of venues to play and tons of people just going to shows and supporting bands. Not too much of that on Long Island" said Eric in a recent interview with The Line of Best Fit. In fact, this year's "Color Your Life" EP was recorded there in its entirety and its six tracks serve to showcase the scope of the band's sound.
The EP's first track "The Other Side of Your Face" opens with a minimal drum beat, embellished with Animal Collective-esque echoing synths and honeyed guitar tones. However, it's Andrea Estella's delicate vocal that forms the backbone of this track, the listener almost straining to hear it amongst a lush backdrop of "oohs" and "aahs" reminiscent of Local Natives' 2009 debut. My personal favourite track, "All Around and Away We Go", sees the band exploring a funkier side to their repertoire, jazzy bassline driving the 4:34, offset perfectly with Andrea's soaring, breathy vocal. Another highlight is "Milk and Honey" which opens with sombre accordion and the signature vocal proving a combination akin to Beach House's more recent "Teen Dream" album (which can only be a good thing, right? RIGHT)
Having signed to the brilliant, independent record label Domino in the UK, home of artists such as Wild Beasts, Lightspeed Champion, Dirty Projectors and Eugene McGuinness, Twin Sister are gaining more and more attention outside of the Big Apple. The band will be crossing the pond this month to play a few UK dates, including London's own Lexington which I wouldn't miss for the world.
23rd - The Prince Albert, Brighton
24th - Brudnell Social Club, Leeds
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