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Tawny Peaks

Tawny Peaks

Written by: PP on 17/08/2013 02:52:18

Tawny Peaks is an original emo band from Montclair, New Jersey recalling 90s emo bands like Mineral and Braid in pretty much every way possible on their self-titled debut album "Tawny Peaks". Think twinkly, math-rock inspired guitars, sort of lo-fi production values (which push especially the vocals to the background), and a quiet, soft, introverted vibe throughout the disc. Now, "Tawny Peaks" was originally released in June 2012, but it was due out for a vinyl release earlier this year which is why it landed in our review queue. But hey, who doesn't mind yet another emo revivalist band who does their job reasonably well, right?

What makes Tawny Peaks different from many of their peers - think Everyone Everywhere and others like them - is their application of math rock guitars to the nostalgia-driven original emo sound. Much like Wavelets and possibly also Castevet (though they are arguably more post-rock), the complexity of their time-signatures during tracks like "More Proof" far triumphs that of their contemporaries, and in part helps make their sound more distinguishable. At the same time, the record suffers from the same drawbacks as those same contemporaries, namely that in pursuit of the most awkward and introverted vocal style possible, the melodies have a tendency to be forgotten behind the mathy guitars a lot of the time. I think it's an important observation that the soft, silky female vocals on "March Sadness" and the equivalent backing parts on "More Proof" have more character than the male ones that otherwise dominate the disc. Not that these are bad, per se, they are just going a little too much for the awkward (though NOT nerdy like Man Overboard) vibe a lot of the time.

Consequently, "Tawny Peaks" is the kind of record where you have to pay attention to get everything out of it. The rich levels of detail in guitars is one thing, but its the interplay with the vocals that makes this an interesting release. It takes a while to sink in, but Tawny Peaks have created a prototypical original emo record - a textbook record that showcases precisely how this genre is meant to be played: without pretension, with heart, and emotion worn on their sleeves.

Download: With Steps, More Proof, The Tree Song
For the fans of: Everyone Everywhere, Braid, Mineral, Wavelets, Castevet
Listen: Facebook

Release date 26.06.2012
Glass Nail Records