Superorganism

Domino

Mar 20, 2018 Web Exclusive By Austin Trunick

With their membership spread across multiple continents, it makes sense that Superorganism would draw from a wide range of influences. Their sound is every bit a brightly-colored collage as their video aesthetic: a blend of modern meme imagery and Windows 95-era nostalgia. Superorganism is a blend of new ideas and old obsessions meeting in a way that reminds one of the ‘90s alterna-pop experimentation of Odelay-era Beck, Stereolab, and Primitive Radio Gods.

If you’ve spent any time following the indie rock news cycle, you’ve no doubt heard Superorganism’s breakout singles. They’re well-represented on this debut LP, comprising five of its 10 tracks, and are the record’s highlights. The irresistible “Something For Your M.I.N.D.,” with its chorus that drops out and momentarily disappears into a vacuum, utilizes multiple distorted vocals and effects that range from a muffled foreign language track to what has to be somebody biting into an apple; “Everybody Wants to Be Famous” lays an infectious hook over a mellow, yet heavily-warped beat. Both have major potential to be an indie fan’s summer anthem. The album cuts, though, never quite hit the same peaks as their previously-released bedfellows, with the balance tipping away from the band’s pop prowess to where it begins to feel like the tools at their disposal are being treated too much like toys. While it’s more than a little uneven, however, there are more new things being attempted on Superorganism than you might find on 10 other artists’ records combined. They may not always nail their landing, but Superorganism at least max out their scores for creativity. (www.wearesuperorganism.com)

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