GARDENS & VILLA - "DUNES"

Artist: Gardens & Villa

Album: Dunes

Label: Secretly Canadian

Release Date: February 4^th, 2013

Review By: Sean Kayden

Gardens & Villa, a band from Santa Barbara, CA, is poised to release their sophomore record, “Dunes.” With this specific endeavor, the California five-piece indie rock act headed to Michigan for a bleak winter experience to record. It was a far different living situation than the boys ever could have imagined. The results were far from a sunny, breezy tone that the band was already accustomed to in California. What was formed ended up being a record consisting of nine dark synth-pop tracks embedded with pulsating snyth lines, effervescent rhythms, and shimmering vocals. The influences of 80s snyth rock bands gloss over the tracks, but the band is far from being imitators. Introspective songwriting, dance jam tunes, and fluttering melodies makes “Dunes” the first great album of the year.

“Colony Glen” covers every 80s sound possible and is down right intoxicating. In “Bullet Train” Chris Lynch hits the notes sky high with “The young die young, if they work too hard / Palm silhouettes, magnetic rails though the heart young silhouettes, we were doomed from the start.” The band’s first self-titled record was a lot more experimental and a bit all over the place. It still had some good songs, but it showed a band somewhat green on their first outing. With “Dunes,” Gardens & Villa come back like seasoned pros with a remarkable accomplishment of producing nine utterly enthralling and superlative songs. Sonically, the two albums are far different, but “Dunes” is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor. “Echosassy” puts the listener in a trance with a heavy snyth tempo. “Purple Masses,” best track off the record, is a completely beautiful, downtempo affair. Lynch’s vocals are intimate and stimulating and when paired with striking melodies, there’s no going wrong.

“Avalanche,” another solid entry that will have you dancing in no time and if not, something is terribly wrong with you. “Minnesota” is a slow burn tune that shows Lynch painstakingly singing over a piano. It’s heartfelt and pensive. It’s a departure from the rest of the album, but nothing to shun. “Chrysanthemums” is another slightly slower track from the other offerings, but no less beautiful and warm.  It also feature female vocals that go hand in hand with Lynch’s soft tones. “Thunder Glove” closes out the record and it reminds me a lot of a Fleetwood Mac tune. Ironically, the band covered their song “Gypsy” a few years ago for a compilation record. At just under forty minutes, “Dunes” is one great listening experience. It has tremendous replay value. It’s dark, deep, romantic and filled with insight. The second album from Gardens & Villa surpasses all expectations I had going in. Their travels have served them well and what lies beyond is anyone’s guess. For the moment, “Dunes” will serve as the album to bring in light where winter’s darkness occupies.

Grade: 8.6 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Chrysanthemums,” “Purple Masses,” “Avalanche,” “Thunder Glove”