Blonder Tongue Audio Baton in Bloomington, MN

The Swirlies
' first full-length album melds noisy guitars, samples, and sweet girl-boy vocals into a disheveled take on
dream pop
. Where so many dreamy bands polish their sound into pristine oblivion,
the Swirlies
create a hazy atmosphere that is evocative and unpretentious.
Blonder Tongue Audio Baton
-- named after a vintage tube equalizer -- combines the elements of the band's early work with more complexity. Songs like
"Bell"
and
"Vigilant Always"
juxtapose gentle and brash moments for a spontaneous feel, while
"His Life of Artistic Freedom"
expands on
' noisy,
experimental
side. The group also shows off their accessible fuzz-
pop
on the album's centerpiece,
"Pancake."
The combination of
Seana Carmody
's demure vocals, big guitars, and burbling Mellotrons makes for one of Boston's most memorable
moments since the
Pixies
'
"Gigantic."
The crunchy rhythms of
"Tree Chopped Down"
"Wrong Tube"
complement
Damon Tuntunjian
Carmody
's limpid vocals beautifully, and the sweetly noisy
"Wait Forever"
sums up
' homemade
noise pop
aesthetic. A mainstay of early-'90s indie music,
still sounds fresh today. ~ Heather Phares