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Jul 23, 2018 77:78 By Matt the Raven

One step forward, two steps back. So goes the retro-futuristic bachelor pad music on Jellies, the debut album by former members of The Bees (aka A Band of Bees), Aaron Fletcher and Tim Parkin, the duo now known as 77:78.

Several tracks on Jellies take the familiar sound reminiscent of ‘60s psychedelic pop into the future by stepping up the tempo and spicing up the arrangements. Keyboard centric folk melodies and harmonized boy-band voices dipped in reverb are merged with groovy horns and catchy choruses. Standout tracks “Love Said (Let’s Go)” and “Chilli” even add a little guitar to the hipster fun.

But the rich harmonies and sharp production isn’t sustained throughout the album’s 11 tracks. Several tracks not only step backwards from the mod rock but step back in time to mimic the slow tempo sunshiny pop of early ‘60s boy bands, but lack the freshness of their heritage.

While Jellies shows a few fleeting instances of distinction, mostly the band tend to echo their influences rather than use them to develop their music into something new. The amiable melodies tend to wallow within the comfort zone of gentle, retro-futuristic pop while never being quite catchy enough to be memorable, but are sunny and warm nonetheless. (www.facebook.com/7778music/)

Author rating: 4/10