White Arrows - Dry Land Is Not A Myth (2012)

An eclectic approach and a puckish spirit combine to make Dry Land Is Not a Myth a noteworthy debut. The project’s title comes from the apocalyptic sci-fi film Waterworld, an indication of the spacy, borderline camp ambiance of the songs here. But the L.A.-based quintet is aiming for much more than mockery—these tracks swirl with bright sonic colors and snag the ear with indelible hooks. Frontman Mickey Church sings with a woozy sort of abandon, adding to the delirious quality of the band’s vivid yet oblique lyrics. Tunes like “Coming or Going,” “Fireworks of the Sea," and “Golden” possess shimmering textures and ultra-danceable grooves that transcend the need for clarity. White Arrows gleefully flit between genres, favoring guitar crunch and soft-psych atmospherics in “Little Birds,” dipping into festive Caribbean rhythms in “Get Gone,” and turning up the funk quotient in “Settle Down.” The tracks’ dense but bubbly arrangements blend ‘60s Brit-rock whimsy with ‘80s rave-pop trippiness. The result is a beguiling hipster hybrid that puts a smile on your face even as it teases your mind.